Extending the Systems Engineering Methodology toInclude Supportability Engineering

摘要

Systems' engineering has always been an essential part of developing integrated solutions. Fromrnits' earliest inceptions, systems engineering dealt with providing a solution that balancedrnperformance and operational requirements at the lowest life cycle cost. As an art form, systems'rnengineering was based upon the methods and processes of individuals. As the tools,rnmethodologies and philosophies of systems engineering evolved, it was transformed from an artrnto a science. This transformation is demonstrated in evolution that occurred through IEEE 1220,rnEIA 632, and EIA 731.rnWhile many of the attributes of these guidance documents map in to understood design areasrnsuch as hardware, software, and ease of manufacture, they do not clearly map into areas such asrnsupport strategy, impact to total ownership cost, maintenance planning and technology refreshrncycles. These later actions fall under the discipline of supportability engineering. The systemsrnengineering model contains numerous opportunities for supportability linkage, however thernsupportability hand-offs were undefined when the systems engineering standards were released.rnThis is because systems engineering guidance documents were being written at the same timernsupportability engineering was evolving to a standalone entity. The result is the documents haverna strong interface, but without the necessary details to effectively integrate the disciplines.rnThis paper describes the interconnections and key linkages that need to be addressed to flowrninformation between supportability engineering and systems engineering, and the furtherrnevolution of the systems engineering process through assimilation of supportability engineering.