Systems Engineering

1
Systems Engineering

• MECN 7012
• Session 1
• Module 1.1

2
Course Content

• 12 Lecturers
• My role is that of facilitator
• Learning by doing course and hence there are many
  case studies.
• Failure to attend lecturers will put you at a
  disadvantage due to the high degree of complexity
  in the course

3
Course Content

• History of systems thinking.
• Systems engineering definitions as per lecture
  notes.
• Soft systems versus Hard systems.

4
Course Content

• Systems mapping.
• CAPETOWN models as derived from CATWOE models
  (Checkland)
• Other important definitions regarding Systems
  thinking especially lecture notes for session 1
  2

5
Course Content

• Systems engineering a TQM perspective
• Bottlenecking and its ramifications
• System engineering project life cycles
• Architecting
• Analysis and evaluation
• System project management

6
System Perspective
Soft Systems (Systems
Spectrum) Hard Systems
Fuzzy and unstructured Systems requiring
disjointed incremental process
Clear cut problems Requiring rigorous logical
approaches
7
Main Steps in a System Study
8
Definitions

• System
• A set of interrelated components working together
  towards some common objective or purpose
• Components
• Attributes
• Relationships

9
Definitions

• Component properties
• Each of the set has an effect on the set as a
  whole.
• Each of the set depends on at lease one of the
  other.
• If each of the set includes the above then it
  cannot be subdivided into individual subsets.

10
Relational View

• Exists between two components only
• Formed out of imminent qualities of the
  components
• Connection of components is direct.

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Relationships

• First order Symbiosis
• Second order Synergetic
• Redundancy

12
Classifications

• Natural and human made systems.
• Physical and conceptual systems.
• Static and dynamic systems.
• Closed and open systems.

13
System Engineering Process
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The System Design Process

• Conceptual design
• Preliminary design
• Detailed design and development
• System test and evaluation
• Special topics

15
Analysis and Evaluation

• Decision making.
• Economic evaluation.
• Control

16
System Project Management

• Planning.
• Organization.
• Program evaluation.
• Contracting and supplier management.
• Risk management.
• Political challenge.

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The Waterfall Process Model
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The Vee Process Model
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Spiral Process Model
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Topics for discussion

• What are some of the differences/similarities
  between systems engineering and some of the
  more traditional disciplines like Aero,
  Electrical or Mechanical.
• What is meant by life cycle cost? Why is it
  important in the decision making process?

21
Topics for discussion

• Describe a system from your own perspective.
• A system is more than the sum of its parts.
  Explain.
• Prepare for the review questions for the next
  Session/Lecture

22
Group Class Assignment

• Consider a petrol pump in the forecourt of a
  service station.
• To what hierarchy of systems does it belong
• If the pump dispenses unleaded petrol, does it
  change the picture developed in 1.
• Does it matter which garage we are talking about

23
Group Class Assignment

• The dollar value of the rand
• What is the hierarchy of systems that influences
  the exchange rate of the Rand (US Dollars)
• Assume the current rate is R7.521(US). What
  does this mean to you
• Your answers to (1) and (2) are both system
  hierarchies. What are the major points of
  difference between these two hierarchies