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Systems Engineering

We Develop – with System and Requirements Management

What is Systems Engineering?

Managing complexity, minimising risks and acting efficiently - that's our motto!

Our world is becoming more and more networked and complex; even products that appear simple now have to offer comprehensive functions. This is clearly illustrated by the example of a bollard: where previously it had to be swivelled by hand, today it is controllable and retractable by means of smart solutions.

Keywords such as 'digital transformation' and 'Industry 4.0' aptly summarise the increasing complexity. To cope with this new multifaceted nature in product development, invenio uses methodical Systems Engineering (SE).

Top-down approach

Starting with the initial idea and task definition, through goal-oriented development, operation and the end-of-life phase, all development steps are precisely defined and documented.

Holistic nature

Systems Engineering classifies all aspects of a system from the outset in its environment and considers them in their entirety. All process steps of the product life cycle are included.

Error avoidance

Through interdisciplinary and structured work and close interaction with all responsible stakeholders, errors can be detected and avoided at an early stage.

What is Model-based Systems Engineering?

In the case of complex requirements, the following applies in particular: 'A picture says more than a thousand words'. Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) supports Systems Engineering by applying formal modelling methods.

Systems Engineering captures all requirements and links them to the context and system components.

All functionalities and development steps are documented and thus always traceable.

MBSE also displays models graphically and connects model elements with each other using standardised systems (SysML/UML).

MBSE also displays models graphically and connects model elements with each other using standardised systems (SysML/UML).

The graphical display supports communication, facilitates fault finding and promotes the discovery of further innovative solutions.

The models created provide a basis for testing, verification and simulation using digital twins at an early stage of the project.

Advantages of Model-based Development and its Application:

Mastering the complexity of the individual product modules and interfaces
Early availability and reuse of development artefacts
Reduction of non-conformity costs through early validation
Automated document development from the model
Traceability of requirements, system architectures and security classifications

FAQ Systems Engineering

What is Systems Engineering?

Systems engineering has established itself over decades in those industries where the interrelationships are complex or safety-critical and errors lead to high costs. Today, the systems engineering approach can be used for all product and system developments. The focus is on the methods, tools and processes as well as their interconnection in the project. In this way, systems engineering provides a holistic, multidisciplinary and collaborative basis for the development, design and production of complex products.

For us, systems engineering is more than just an intelligent approach: it is a multi-faceted solution for complex technical products to manage the requirements of various stakeholders in an agile manner and to keep them in focus throughout the entire product development process. Systems engineering guarantees the adequate integration of all necessary engineering disciplines such as mechanics, electronics or software as well as the consideration of all external and internal interfaces. We work according to the following motto: Master complexity, minimise risks.

Why do you need systems engineering?

Nowadays, projects and products are becoming more complex and project teams are more international and interdisciplinary, which requires much more coordination between the participants. In addition, changes to the product are the order of the day, whether due to customer requirements or regular changes to local and global legal frameworks and regulations. Only a continuous development process allows an efficient approach to the technical solution as well as a system-based verifiability of the requirements. Systems engineering encompasses all these aspects: With a common system model, errors can be detected and avoided at an early stage through interdisciplinary and structured work as well as close interlocking with all responsible stakeholders.

Starting with the initial idea and task definition, through targeted development, operation and the end-of-life phase, we support you in precisely defining and documenting all development steps. All process steps of the product life cycle are included.

What is model-based systems engineering?

Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) supports you in gaining an overview of complex systems as a whole and in developing an optimal solution for the requirements of all stakeholders. User potentials are exploited with MBSE along the entire development process - starting with improved interdisciplinary communication, through early validation of requirements, to improved handling of complexity through comprehensible development steps. According to the principle 'A picture is worth a thousand words', requirements can no longer be recorded in purely textual form, but are comprehensibly captured with the help of models and illustrations and system interrelationships are clearly presented.

Already in the initial phases of product development, we work with digital models that identify your external dependencies, define system functions and ensure a common and comprehensive understanding of the system and ensure a common and comprehensive understanding of the system.

What are MbSE Tools?

Tools for Model Based Systems Engineering support users in the model-based representation of their requirements. Some MBSE tools are, for example, Cameo Systems Modeler or IBM Rhapsody.

We support you in using these and other tools so that you can manage your requirements efficiently and understandably.

Why is MbSE important?

In order to monitor the optimal basis for all product-relevant information in the virtual space, MBSE provides a good and structured approach and helps the product developer to determine and visualise the requirements. With the appropriate methods as well as processes, data consistency is ensured and impact analyses of changes can be carried out more quickly, as critical points can be identified at an early stage.

The complete specification and traceability of the requirements is the basis for the digital master at the beginning. With the help of model-based work such as SysML models, initial simulations can be created and the behaviour of the system validated.

Why is systems engineering important?

Projects and products are becoming more complex and project teams are operating more internationally and interdisciplinarily, which requires significantly more coordination.

Changes are the order of the day, whether due to customer requirements or regular changes in local and global legal frameworks and regulations. Only a continuous development process allows an efficient approach to the technical solution as well as a system-based verifiability of the requirements.

Systems engineering encompasses all these aspects and thus offers an increase in efficiency and quality with significantly fewer error corrections.

When is the right time to use systems engineering?

In addition to many other uncertainties, projects contain three risks from the very beginning that can lead to failure:

Missing or incomplete requirements
Incorrect and/or inconsistent requirements
Continuously changing requirements

At the latest during the development of product variants, complete documentation of all requirements and process steps is essential to ensure variant management and reusability of designs and products.

Can I simply introduce systems engineering myself?

In complex projects, many important components of the development are quickly overlooked. Questions about functional safety, development tools, development processes, etc. require comprehensive knowledge and experience. invenio Systems Engineering supports you in all project steps that arise:

Implementation: Our qualified employees draw on their experience from various industries and know the common thread you need to steer all project participants with their tasks and framework conditions.
Tools: Our employees have extensive experience with common software solutions, such as IBM Rational Jazz Platform with DOORS and Siemens Polarion, als well as tools like Magic Draw or Enterprise Architect. This enables them to quickly familiarise themselves with existing softwrae structures or to advixe you comprehensively and independently of the tool provider when introducing software.
Technical consulting: In the areas of requirements engineering and requirements management, we also support you in an advisory capacity when creating system architectures and linking them to the requirements. Learn more about our technical consulting services.
Project support: If necessary, we support you in the implementation of systems engineering with technically experienced personnel. Find out more about project support here.
Further training: We not only regularly train our employees, but also offer this service to external participants. Find out more about further training here.