Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is a discipline and a Lean tool that allows engineers to quickly and incrementally learn about the system under development before the cost of change gets too high.
Models are used to explore the structure, behavior, and operational characteristics of system elements, evaluate design alternatives, and validate assumptions faster and earlier in the system life cycle.
Model-Based Systems Engineering is especially useful for large and complex systems—satellites, aircraft, medical systems, and the like—where the solution must be proven practical beyond all possible doubt before, for example, launching into space or connecting to the first patient.
Models also record and communicate decisions that will be useful to others. This information serves as documentation for Compliance, impact analysis, and other needs. In SAFe, model information is recorded as part of the Solution Intent, most often created by the work of Enablers.
Analysts point out that model standards help control and guide teams on how best to model. These important guides include:
- Where modeling information should be placed for solution and subsystem elements
- Common types and dimensions used across the system
- Modeling tool properties and configuration
- Modeling notations and parts of those notations to use or exclude
- What information should be captured
- Links within the model or with other cross-discipline models
- Collaboration practices and proper use of any version control systems
Experts in MBSE recommend if documents are being generated from the models, the document templates should be defined early, as they will influence many of these decisions.
System designers need to know where to store the model elements and any metadata or links that may be used for queries, document generation, or compliance. As a best practice, create a high-level, full-system skeleton model early to validate these usage scenarios. Teams then populate the model as the system evolves.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers Introduction to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), a 2-day course where participants learn about modeling, modeling applied to systems engineering, Systems Modeling Language (SysML) application and more.
Participants will learn how MBSE is applied and how modern system engineering uses models to create structural and dynamic artifacts for conops, system requirements, design, architecture, analysis verification and validation activities.
Through case studies and examples, participants will discover application of modeling to systems engineering, the model-based approach to analysis, requirements, design and testing.
For more information, questions, comments, contact us.