Introduction to Systems Engineering

DURATION: TWO DAYS
COURSE NO.: 1155

This course acquaints both the engineer and support personnel with the meaning, terms used, techniques, advantages and challenges of Systems Engineering for space and related industries. The course deals with the systems approach, managing and successfully implementing a contract, program or project from inception through its life in the field. Each element in a program is taken from concept, definition and design, through fabrication, test and operation of the end product by addressing systems engineering techniques for each step. Topics include requirements identification and development, program planning and control, system design, system integration, risk management and cost controls.

COURSE MATERIALS:
Include extensive notes and reference materials and the text Augustines Laws.

This introductory course addresses the major aspects of systems engineering and is directed toward a broad spectrum of company employees, ranging from the engineers beginning their careers to managers from specialty engineering design groups or functional support organizations - all of whom will benefit from knowledge of systems engineering techniques in performance of their job assignments. The course does not require graduate or undergraduate degrees.

This course teaches an engineering approach which emphasizes addressing all aspects of a system: its requirements, interfaces, cost constraints, design options and trade-off techniques for carrying out a successful program. The course highlights the importance of understanding, addressing and verifying requirements and how requirements must permeate every aspect of program activities. Functional Analysis/Functional Flow diagrams are introduced as a key method of addressing and verifying requirements. System design methods, sequences, trade studies and interfaces are then covered to follow a typical programs progression. Suporting analyses usually required in a desgn cycle are summarized along with explanation, examples and use of the "ilities" (reliability, availability, maintainability, etc.). The important aspects of proper program planning and control, cost estimating and cost containment, risk management and mitigation and the use of metrics to measure the performance and health of the program are also presented.

1. Introduction.
   

   Review of recent space and aviation failures due to lack of Systems Engineering; What is Systems Engineering?

2. Requirements, Functional Analysis (FA) and Specifications.
   

   Identification of requirement types (e.g., Functional, Performance, Operational, Test, Interface); how developed, allocated and verified. Introduction to FA; Functional Flow Diagrams; requirements-to-functions (methods, sequences); requirements implementation. Specification levels (System, Segment, Element, Subsystem, Component); Spec “Trees” (“A”, “B” and “C” levels).

3. System Design.
   

   The System Design Process and flow sequence; phases (Conceptual, Definition and Development).

4. Program Planning and Control (PP&C).
   

   Why PP&C is an important Systems Engineering Function; who does; management hints; tracking and measuring program performance; necessary Program Plans.

5. Trade Studies.
   

   Methods/types; the trade study step-by-step decision process; generating alternative candidates; trade study “pitfalls”/cautions; KT (Kepner/Tregoe) method training.

6. Systems Integration and Systems Interfaces.
   

   Integration tasks (e.g., defining, controlling, documenting, compatibility of, and verifying interfaces); other Interface/Integration activities (e.g., policies, schematics, Interface Working Groups, operations and schedules).

7. Operations (Ops) Analysis.
   

   Ops requirements and analysis; Ops Concept and flow; allocating operations functions to hardware and procedures.

8. Compatibility Analysis.
   

   Major types (electrical, mechanical, software/hardware interfaces); what to check; a “how to” outline; margin analyses.

9. The “ ‘ilities”.
   

   Namely, Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Human Factors/Human Engineering, Producability, Safety, Security, EMI/EMC; some “how-to’s" of their use; cautions and risks.

10. Risk Management and Failure Modes & Effects Analysis (FMEA).
    

    Risk identification, assessment, quantification (high, medium, low) and prioritization; risk handling techniques; Risk Mitigation Plans – their content and use; FMEA: what it is; basic analysis method(s); as part of Hazards Analysis.

11. Systems Analysis.
    

    Types (e.g., program planning, ops profiles, system simulations, performance estimates, post-test comparisons); inputs required, sample tasks and expected outputs.

12. Metrics.
    

    What they are; types (Product [Technical Performance Measures – TPM’s] and Process metrics); use of; how to collect; goals and goal setting; cautions and guides.

13. Concurrent Engineering, Technical Quality Management (TQM) and Integrated Product Development (IPD).
    

    What these are; why use (advantages)/how used; why they do/do not work; pros/cons of these three initiatives.

14. Costs/Cost Controls.
    

    Cost terms; technical cost estimating and “pitfalls”; details of “Life-cycle” costs; what is a “Design-to-Cost” program and how to implement.

15. Engineering Plans and “Lessons Learned” Program.
    

    Types of plans (e.g., Systems Engineering Management Plan, Master Program Plan, Configuration Management Plan, Software Development Plans, Safety Plans); typical contents; Collecting “lessons”, documenting, distributing, using/non-use; problems with such a “program”.