Systems Engineering - the future of product development?

The complexity of systems such as cars, aircraft or machine tools is constantly increasing and the importance of software-based functions in these systems is also growing. This poses numerous challenges for companies in engineering and the subsequent phases of the system lifecycle. One approach to address these challenges lies in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), in the context of which the entire development process of a system runs under the formalized application of models (source: Fraunhofer IPK ).

With expert knowledge to successful systems engineering

As part of the webinar series "A Bridge between Science and Industry - From Research to Practice" , the ZD.B topic platform Digital Production & Engineering in December 2021 offered interested representatives from science and industry an insight into current research activities in the topic area of MBSE and their application in practice. Three experts from science and industry provided insights into the research and implementation of systems engineering.

Simon Barner, Competence Field Manager Model-Based Systems Engineering at fortiss GmbH named three aspects that are necessary for an implementation of MBSE:

• Languages for formalizing relevant aspects of systems
• a methodology for the structured application of MBSE
• as well as engineering tools.

Meaningful models thereby form the basis for reducing development time and costs through automated processes, for example by bringing forward design decisions and validation activities to early phases of development, as well as the derivation of design and implementation artifacts (e.

MBSE can break down silos in companies and thus enable interdisciplinary collaboration, is a key statement made by Prof. Dr. Claudio Zuccaro of the Munich University of Applied Sciences. Models already available in the company (for simulations, for example) can also be linked with MBSE models. How ultimately such models are structured can look very different.

One possibility is the use of graph-based systems, such as those used by semantic PDM GmbH & Co. KG. Dr. Andreas Weber, Managing Director of semantic PDM GmbH & Co KG: "Through such a system, consistency can be achieved throughout the entire development process from the user story to the technical bill of materials."

Really the future of product development?

The experts agree that due to increasingly complex products and the increasing demands on companies (for example, in the area of traceability), systems engineering will become more and more important in the future. This not only affects manufacturers of large systems such as cars and aircraft, but also their suppliers and component manufacturers who develop and produce parts of such systems. At the same time, the tools and methods of systems engineering are constantly being developed further, which significantly improves their usability and makes them interesting for more and more applications. In addition, systems engineering could help with the structuring and central storage of data in the company and thus also support companies in professional data management, on the basis of which data can also be supplied to customers if required.

How does the introduction of systems engineering succeed in medium-sized companies?

In conclusion, the following recommendations can be made by the experts to interested small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs):

• Companies should first obtain an overview of existing solutions and try out several of them in order to identify the best solution for their own needs.
• In addition, it would be useful to first gain an understanding of systems engineering in general before expanding to model-based systems engineering.
• During the introduction, it is also important not to lose sight of change management in order to bring along and convince all employees who will be affected by the introduction of a new solution. This introduction can follow the premise of "Think Big, Start Small", according to which companies first start MBSE in smaller pilot projects and try out whether the approach can create added value in their own company.

Further information

fortiss also offers interested SMEs an MBSE maturity model and has published a whitepaper entitled "Practical Introduction of Model-based Systems Engineering".

Read the whitepaper

In the Systems Engineering Laboratory Experience Center, the Munich University of Applied Sciences also offers a wide range of collaboration opportunities to promote the transfer of research results to industry.

Discover collaboration opportunities

Speaker contact details

• Simon Barner, head of the Modelbased-Systems Engineering research field, fortiss GmbH: Contact by Mail
• Prof. Dr. Claudio Zuccaro, Professor of Systems Engineering, Munich University of Applied Sciences: Contact by Mail
• Dr. Ing. Andreas Weber, Managing Director, Semantic PDM GmbH & Co. KG: Contact by Mail