System Engineering Concepts

What is a System?

• A system is a group of interacting or interrelated elements that act according to a set of rules to form a unified whole.
• A system has boundaries, structure, and purpose, and is expressed in its functioning.
• The term "system" comes from the Latin word "systēma", meaning a systematic arrangement of organisms.

System Components

• A system has inputs, processes, and outputs.
• Elements of a system include:
  • System boundary
  • System
  • Context
  • Interface
• A system can be broken down into sub-systems and components.

What is Engineering?

• Engineering involves the application of scientific principles and mathematics to solve real-world problems and innovate new products and processes.
• Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items.
• Engineering is a creative application of science, mathematical methods, and empirical evidence to innovation, design, construction, and maintenance.

What is Systems Engineering?

• Systems engineering is managing complex systems by using engineering principles throughout their life cycle.
• Systems engineering is the process of designing and managing complex systems by using engineering and scientific principles.
• Systems engineering focuses on how to design, integrate, and manage complex systems over their life cycles.

Brief History of Systems Engineering

• The term "systems engineering" can be traced back to Bell Telephone Laboratories in the 1940s.
• The need to identify and manipulate the properties of a system as a whole led to the development of systems engineering.
• The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) was founded in 1995 to improve systems engineering practices and education.

Holistic View

• Systems engineering focuses on analyzing and eliciting customer needs and required functionality early in the development cycle.
• Systems engineering considers the complete problem in the system lifecycle and fully understands all stakeholders involved.

Types of Processes

• The systems engineering process can be decomposed into:
  • A Systems Engineering Technical Process: assessing available information, defining effectiveness measures, and creating a behavior model.
  • A Systems Engineering Management Process: organizing the technical effort in the lifecycle.

Systems Classification

• Natural Systems vs Man-Made Systems:
  • Natural systems have defined laws and are self-organized.
  • Man-made systems are made by humans and can be divided into Engineered Systems and Non-engineered Human Systems.
• Static Systems vs Dynamic Systems:
  • Static systems do not change their state within a specified system life cycle.
  • Dynamic systems change their state over time.
• Conceptual Systems vs Physical Systems:
  • Conceptual systems consist only of concepts and are used to analyze the feasibility of a system.
  • Physical systems consist of objects that can be seen, touched, and felt.
• Open Systems vs Closed Systems:
  • Open systems exchange information, matter, or energy with their surrounding environments.
  • Closed systems do not exchange things with their surrounding environments.

Interdisciplinary Effort

• Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary effort that requires contribution from diverse technical disciplines.
• Systems engineering helps mold technical contributors into a unified team effort, forming a structured development process.### Interdisciplinary Effort
• Systems engineering involves multiple domains: Science, Engineering, Management, and Art
• Supporting roles exist in systems engineering

Managing Complexity

• The need for systems engineering arose from the increasing complexity of systems and projects
• Complexity can be caused by an increase in size or the number of operations and variables involved
• Systems engineering uses tools and methods to manage complexity, such as:
  • System architecture
  • System modeling
  • Modeling and simulation
  • Optimization
  • System dynamics
  • Systems analysis
  • Statistical analysis
  • Reliability analysis
  • Decision making

Fundamentals of Systems Engineering

• Interfaces:

  • Defined as connections between two or more elements to pass information
  • Types of interfaces: connector, converter, and isolator
  • Importance of standardized interfaces for compatibility and ease of maintenance

• Interface management:

  • Crucial aspect of system development
  • Ensures interfaces are defined and identified
  • Reduces or eliminates incompatibilities
  • Coordinates and controls interfaces
  • Maintains system integrity throughout its life

• Stakeholders:

  • People or groups with an interest in the success of a business or project
  • Users: individuals or groups that interact with the system
  • Types of users: direct, indirect, remote, and support users

• Systems thinking:

  • Interdisciplinary approach to understanding complex systems
  • Focuses on relationships, interactions, and dynamics within a system
  • Recognizes that a system is more than the sum of its parts
  • Key principles: emergence, nonlinearity, and feedback loops

• Types of systems thinking:

  • Hard systems thinking: applies to well-defined problems, uses mathematical models and quantitative analysis
  • Soft systems thinking: addresses complex, ill-defined problems, emphasizes understanding stakeholder perspectives
  • Critical systems thinking: examines broader social, political, and ethical implications of systems

• Perspectives of systems engineering:

  • Systemic thinking: considers the interconnections and relationships among system components
  • Systematic thinking: analyzes and solves problems in a structured and organized manner
  • Systems engineering viewpoint: focuses on the success of the system as a whole, balancing performance, affordability, and other attributes
  • Successful system: meets requirements, operates successfully, and has a long useful life
  • Best system: balances performance, cost, and other attributes, considering the law of diminishing returns
  • Balanced system: harmonious arrangement of parts, balancing competing attributes and attributes### System Thinking, Engineering, and Lifecycles

• System thinking focuses on processes, while system engineering focuses on the whole product, and engineering systems consider both process and product.

• System engineering approaches identify top-level needs, requirements, and concepts of operations before designing and developing a system solution.

• Systems engineering integrates engineering, management, and social science approaches to solve complex problems.

System Hierarchy

• A system hierarchy is a representation of a system structure using partitioning relationships.
• It displays the relationships of elements within a system, focusing on higher-order elements.
• The system hierarchy consists of levels, such as the system, subsystems, components, and subcomponents.

System Environment and Context

• The system environment is the context that determines the setting and circumstances of interactions and influences with the system.
• It includes external entities that interact with the system, such as users, interfaces, and other systems.
• System boundaries define the limits of a system's control and influence.

System Context Diagram

• A system context diagram shows the interactions between a system and external entities.
• It defines the boundary between the system and its environment, displaying inputs and outputs from/to external factors.
• The diagram is a high-level view of a system, identifying external entities and their interactions with the system.

System Lifecycle

• The system lifecycle includes phases such as concept, development, production, utilization, support, and retirement.
• Each phase has specific objectives, outputs, and activities.
• The concept phase is critical in identifying needs, exploring alternatives, and selecting a preferred solution.

System Development Phase

• The system development phase refines requirements, creates a detailed design, develops and builds the system, and conducts verification testing.
• Outputs include refined requirements, architecture, test articles, cost and schedule estimates, and production specifications.

Production, Utilization, Support, and Retirement Phases

• The production phase involves setting up the production line, deploying the system, and conducting validation testing.
• The utilization phase involves deploying the system in its intended operational environment, discovering discrepancies, and integrating enhancements.
• The support phase involves maintaining the system, repairing breakdowns, and incorporating updates.
• The retirement phase involves preparing and disposing of the system, shutting down infrastructure, and recycling or reusing components.

Maintenance Systems Engineering

• Management oversees the larger picture, while maintenance ensures daily operations run smoothly.
• Maintenance is critical in keeping systems running effectively and efficiently.

Learn about the basics of systems, engineering, and systems engineering. Explore the different types of systems engineering and its applications.