Contents
This section will detail all the systems engineering steps. We will see all main steps and sub-steps, illustrated with an example, respecting the systems engineering process. It includes additional steps, such as deliverable generation. On this purpose, we will study the example of a Laptop including requirements, functional architecture, physical architecture and allocations.
* Note that it is possible to change the background of a flexible object with pictures, like displayed in the following screenshot:
You can see the resulting architecture of this tutorial. It's located in the Workspace Demos, and the project is called Laptop (SEA 6.1)
Systems engineering main steps:
In the process, we work with systems engineering, by applying seven main steps listed and concisely described here:
1 - External requirements management
In this step, the purpose is to define system's environment (stakeholders and enabling systems) in order to define requirements coming from such context systems.
2 - System requirements management
In this step, the purpose is to refine requirements in the system. Requirements are declined in several sub-requirements. It allows to indicate certain needs more precisely.
3 - Functional architecture development
In this step, the purpose is to define functions and flows (functions's inputs / outputs) of the system. Functions are defined by requirements. Indeed, this step includes an allocation of requirements under the functions answering to the concerned requirements. This design will create the functional architecture of our system.
4 - Physical architecture development
In this step, the purpose is to define system components and physical interfaces (physical support of components exchanges). This design will create the physical architecture of our system.
5 - Functional allocation
In this step, the purpose is to allocate functions under the components performing those functions. In addition, flows will also be allocated under physical interfaces supporting the propagation for the concerned flow(s).
Additional steps
In the systems engineering process, we also find parallel and final additional steps, listed and concisely described here:
A - Deliverables generation
Those parallel steps allow the systems engineer to create intermediate or final documents (deliverables). Whenever he wants, he can generate several kinds of documents that show what the project contains (objects listing, allocations, final view ...)
B - Model analysis
Those parallel steps are work supports to help the systems engineer who is doing some parts of the project development. Some repetitive tasks are automated, some algorithms are detecting possible problems ...