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Applied Systems Engineering

Today’s complex systems present difficult challenges to develop. From military systems to aircraft to environmental and electronic control systems, development teams must face the challenges with an arsenal of proven methods. Individual systems are more complex, and systems operate in much closer relationship, requiring a system-of-systems approach to the overall design.

The discipline and concepts of systems engineering provide ways to manage this complexity. By following systems engineering practices, teams organize their thought processes in such a way as to bring order out of chaos. Studies of complex programs have shown that the proper application of up-front thinking can reduce the cost impact of errors by as much as five hundredfold.

Systems engineering is a simple flow of concepts, frequently neglected in the press of day-to-day work, that reduces risk step by step. In this workshop, you will learn the latest systems principles, processes, products, and methods. This is a practical course, in which students apply the methods to build real, interacting systems during the workshop. You can use the results now in your work.

This workshop provides an in-depth look at the latest principles for systems engineering in context of standard development cycles, with realistic practice on how to apply them. The focus is on the underlying thought patterns, to help the participant understand why rather than just teach what to do.

Register here to receive more information on our courses.

Attend this course if you are:

  • A leader or a key member of a complex system development team
  • Concerned about the team’s technical success
  • Interested in how to fit your system into its system environment
  • Looking for practical methods to use in your team

The course is aimed at

  • Systems engineers
  • Technical team leaders
  • Program managers
  • Project managers
  • Logistic support leaders
  • Design engineers
  • Others who participate in defining and developing complex systems.

Albuquerque, NM - 18-21 Oct 10
Huntsville, AL - 9-12 May 11

$1690.00
Discount Policies

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In the System Challenge exercise, students practice the skills by building real, interoperating robots that must work together as a larger system. The exercise, while fun, also shows how difficulties arise in complex development teams.

Course Topics

How do We Work With Complexity? – Basic definitions and concepts. Problem-solving approaches; system thinking; systems engineering overview; what systems engineering is NOT.

  • Objectives, requirements, processes
  • Reductionist and system-level approaches
  • Complexity theory, emergent properties, complex behavior
  • Conceptual development and chunking
  • System thinking principles
  • Application in the system life cycle

Systems Engineering Model – An underlying process model that ties together all the concepts and methods. Overview of the systems engineering model; technical aspects of systems engineering; management aspects of systems engineering.

  • Model overview
  • Incremental, concurrent processes
  • Process loops for iteration
  • Technical and management aspects of systems engineering

A System Challenge Application – Practical application of the systems engineering model against an interesting and entertaining system development. Small groups build actual interoperating robots to solve a larger problem. Small group development of system requirements and design, with presentations for mutual learning.

Where Do Requirements Come From? – Requirements as the primary method of measurement and control for systems development. How to translate an undefined need into requirements; how to measure a system; how to create, analyze, manage requirements; writing a specification.

  • Determining the mission from an operational view
  • Quantifying the mission
  • Analyzing missions and environments
  • Creating requirements
  • Definition of requirements types
  • Requirements analysis methods

Where Does a Solution Come From? – Designing a system using the best methods known today. System architecting processes; alternate sources for solutions; how to allocate requirements to the system components; how to develop, analyze, and test alternatives; how to trade off results and make decisions. Getting from the system design to the system.

  • Defining alternative concepts
  • Architecting with patterns
  • Analyzing and evaluating alternatives
  • Establishing an allocated baseline
  • Implementing the baseline system
  • Production challenges for unique systems
  • System integration processes
  • Transitioning the system into use
  • System operations
  • Post-mission use and disposal

Ensuring System Quality – Building in quality during the development, and then checking it frequently. The relationship between systems engineering and systems testing.

  • Technical analysis as a system tool
  • Verification at multiple levels: architecture, design, product
  • Validation at multiple levels; requirements, operations design, product

Systems Engineering Management – How to successfully manage the technical aspects of the system development; virtual, collaborative teams; design reviews; technical performance measurement; technical baselines and configuration management.

  • Technical teamwork and leadership
  • Planning technical processes
  • Assessing and controlling the technical processes, with corrective actions
  • Technical performance measures
  • Risk management methods
  • Small case studies on process management

Continuing Education: This course qualifies for 2.8 CEUs or 28 PDUs

The Instructors

Mr. Eric Honour, CSEP, has been in international leadership of the engineering of systems for a dozen years, part of a 40-year career of complex systems development and operation. His energetic and informative presentation style actively involves class participants. He was the founding Chair of the INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering) Technical Board in 1994, was elected to INCOSE President for 1997, and served as Director of the Systems Engineering Center of Excellence (SECOE). He was selected in 2000 for Who’s Who in Science and Technology and in 2004 as an INCOSE Founder. He is on the editorial board for Systems Engineering. He has been a systems engineer, engineering manager, and program manager at Harris Information Systems, E-Systems Melpar, and Singer Link, preceded by nine years as a US Naval Officer flying P-3 aircraft. He has led or contributed to the development of 17 major systems, including the Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation systems, the Battle Group Passive Horizon Extension System, the National Crime Information Center 2000, and the DDC1200 Digital Zone Control system for heating and air conditioning. Mr. Honour now heads Honourcode, Inc., a consulting firm offering effective methods in the development of system products. Mr. Honour has a BSSE (Systems Engineering) from the US Naval Academy, MSEE from the Naval Postgraduate School, and is a doctoral candidate at the University of South Australia. Dr. Scott Workinger has led innovative technology development efforts in complex, risk-laden environments for 30 years in the fields of manufacturing (automotive, glass, optical fiber), engineering and construction (nuclear, pulp & paper), and information technology (expert systems, operations analysis, CAD, collaboration technology). He currently teaches courses on program management and engineering and consults on strategic management and technology issues. Scott has a B.S in Engineering Physics from Lehigh University, an M.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of Arizona, and a Ph.D. in Civil and Environment Engineering from Stanford University.

Page last modified 18 May 10