Systems Engineering for Aerospace

A Practical Approach

Richard Sheng

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9780128164587
• eBook ISBN: 9780128172728
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Aeronautic & Astronautic Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Systems Engineering for Aerospace: A Practical Approach applies insights gained from systems engineering to real-world industry problems. The book describes how to measure and manage an aircraft program from start to finish. It helps readers determine input, process and output requirements, from planning to testing. Readers will learn how to simplify design through production and acquire a lifecycle strategy using Integrated Master Plan/Schedule (IMP/IMS). The book directly addresses improved aircraft system design tools and processes which, when implemented, contribute to simpler, lower cost and safer airplanes.The book helps the reader understand how a product should be designed, identifying the customer's requirements, considering all possible components of an integrated master plan, and executing according to the plan with an integrated master schedule. The author demonstrates that systems engineering offers a means for aircraft companies to become more effective and profitable.- Describes how to measure and manage an aircraft program- Instructs on how to determine essential input, process and output requirements- Teaches how to simplify the design process, thus allowing for increased profit- Provides a lifecycle strategy using Integrated Master Plan/Schedule (IMP/IMS)- Identifies cost driver influences on people, products and processes

Chapter 1

Introduction

Abstract

This chapter gives a brief overview of systems engineering (SE) and system thinking, including definitions, concepts and principles, as applied to aerospace engineering. Systems engineering can be viewed as a collective effort employing a large group of engineering techniques that directly transform the objective world through use of system thinking, an approach that is needed now more than ever due to the recent rapid development of highly complex systems and the continuous expansion of production scales. As discussed in this chapter, systems engineering is both an emerging science that studies systems and an engineering technique for designing and building complex products. The scope of SE research has expanded widely from traditional engineering fields into social, technological, and economic fields. The SE approach has achieved remarkable results in many areas, including airplane design and development, major construction projects, the automobile industry, large shipping business operations, natural resource utilization, environmental protection, economic system reforms and worldwide scientific research projects.

The SE processes to be applied by an integrated product team (IPT) are also discussed, along with the specific responsibilities for the technical system effort, including contracted or subcontracted system tasks, which also include the technical processes and procedures to be applied to these tasks.

Keywords

Systems engineering; System thinking; System control; System analysis; Integrated product team; IPT

Chapter Outline

• 1.1 Systems Engineering Definitions
  • 1.1.1 Systems Engineering: A Team Approach
  • 1.1.2 Systems Engineering Requires System Thinking
  • 1.1.3 Systems Engineering Is an Emerging Science
  • 1.1.4 Systems Engineering Is a Multidisciplinary Approach
  • 1.1.5 Systems Engineering Approach Has Achieved Global Recognition
• 1.2 Systems Engineering Processes
  • 1.2.1 Systems Engineering Process Planning
  • 1.2.2 System Requirements Analysis
  • 1.2.3 Functional Analysis/Allocation
  • 1.2.4 System Synthesis
  • 1.2.5 System Analysis
  • 1.2.6 System Control
• 1.3 Summary

1.1 Systems Engineering Definitions

1.1.1 Systems Engineering: A Team Approach

Systems engineering (SE) is a multidisciplinary approach to product lifecycle realization. SE allows one to better understand each product as a whole and to improve the planning, design/development, manufacturing, and maintenance processes. Organizations use SE to model and analyze the interactions, needs, subsystems, constraints, and interactions among system components and to optimize and trade off important decisions throughout the product lifecycle (Fig. 1.1.1). Systems engineers use a variety of modeling techniques and tools to capture, organize, prioritize, deliver, and manage system information throughout an entire product lifecycle. SE attempts to capture and prioritize customer requirements at the front end and then—using functional modeling, object-oriented methods, status charts, etc.—to make alternative assessments, down to the functional and physical divisions of the product (Fig. 1.1.2).

Fig. 1.1.1 Example of systems engineering key relationships.

Fig. 1.1.2 Systems engineering captures physical division of the product.

1.1.2 Systems Engineering Requires System Thinking

Systems engineering can be viewed as a collective effort incorporating a large group of engineering techniques that directly transforms the objective world using system thinking. A system is composed of several key components that are related to each other and that interact with each other. People's understanding of a system, that is, their thinking about a system, comes from social practices. SE practices consist of thinking in a systematic way and synthesizing the various systems of things in the long term. The systems thinking approach has been around for a long time, but the actual application of systems engineering, considering all subsystems as an integrated whole, has only recently come into play. With recent rapid and complex product development and continuous expansion of production scales, an urgent need exists to develop a technology that can effectively organize and manage the planning, analysis, design, manufacture, testing, and use of complex systems—namely, systems engineering.

1.1.3 Systems Engineering Is an Emerging Science

SE is an emerging science that studies systems and is an engineering technique for designing and building a complex product. Building a new complex product requires the use of quantitative analysis (including modeling, simulation, and optimization methods) or quantitative/qualitative analysis of a combination of methods, along with system analysis and system design of the product. The scope of SE research has been expanded from the traditional field of engineering to the social, technological, and economic fields, including scientific, enterprise, military, economic, social, agricultural, administration, and legal systems engineering. Moreover, each aspect of our daily lives can be viewed as a system, and systems engineering approaches can be used to better integrate these aspects, improving social productivity and enhancing the quality of our lives.

1.1.4 Systems Engineering Is a Multidisciplinary Approach

SE is a multidisciplinary approach to planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling production, construction, transportation, storage, communications, commerce, scientific research, and other human activities. In general SE, starting with the overall concept of a system, studies the various subsystems/components, analyzes the relationship between various functions, and uses mathematical methods to find the best solution to build the overall system to achieve the best final results.

1.1.5 Systems Engine...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Author Biography
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Table of Terms
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Systems engineering and integration
• Chapter 3: Managing the plan and execute phases
• Chapter 4: Managing for high performance
• Chapter 5: Integration Plan and Test Strategy
• Chapter 6: Managing People, Product, and Process (P3) implementation
• Chapter 7: Systems engineering fundamentals
• Acronyms
• Bibliography
• Index