The work of systems engineers has considerable value.
System engineers strive to eliminate waste of time, money, man-hours, materials, machine time, energy and other resources. They figure out how to do things better, optimize engineering processes and systems that improve quality and productivity.
Systems engineering ensures that all likely aspects of a project or system are considered, and integrated into a whole.
Systems engineering deals with work-processes, optimization methods and risk management tools in such projects. It overlaps technical and human-centered disciplines such as industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, control engineering, software engineering, electrical engineering, cybernetics, organizational studies and project management.
Today, systems engineering signifies not only an approach but also a discipline in engineering. Systems engineering has evolved to a take on a broader meaning especially when humans are seen as an essential component of a system.
Communications – Why It’s Important for Systems Engineers
While substantial technical skillsets are needed in systems engineering, so are soft skills, especially the ability to communicate with team members and stakeholders who have varying degrees of technical acumen.
The idea of the design process is to capture the content of the contributions offered by each member of the design team. The sum of these contributions becomes what is often referred to as the pool of shared meaning.
The most important communication skill is listening. It is through listening that the systems engineer can discover the thought content which each discipline and each individual brings to the design.
In addition to efficient communications, other qualities that make a good systems engineer include:
- Patience and Perseverance — The more complex the system the longer and more tedious a project it becomes.
- An Analytical Brain –– Most engineers are naturally analytical.
- Ability To See The Small Picture – Being detailed oriented is a great quality.
- Ability To See The Big Picture – The overall picture and future implications need to be understood as well.
- Capacity For Leading And Working Well In A Team – A good systems engineer can do both.
While systems engineers are generally born with certain innate skills, such as an affinity for mathematics, training is essential, especially in this rapidly changing technological landscape.
Tonex offers nearly 400 different systems engineering courses in more than four dozen categories. Want to learn more? For more information, questions, comments, contact us.