ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a deeper understanding of the Systems Engineering (SE), its approach, processes, issues, techniques, advantages, and disadvantages. SE is a multidisciplinary engineering decision-making process involved in designing and using systems and products. The SE activities involve both the technical and management activities from an early design stage to the end of the life cycle of a product. The SE process begins with the understanding of a customer’s needs and progresses iteratively through (a) requirement analysis, (b) function analysis and allocation, (c) design synthesis, (d) balanced product design through use of control loops, and (e) evaluations for verification and validation until an acceptable product is developed. The chapter also presents the SE “V” model. It provides a composite view on a horizontal timeline with all important product life cycle activities staggered along the legs of the “V” from (a) product concept development to design and engineering on the left-leg of the “V,” (b) manufacturing, assembly, verification and validation on the right-leg of the “V,” (c) requirements at the product, systems and sub-systems levels, from top to bottom respectively, between the two legs of the “V,” and (d) production, product refinements, and retirement/disposal phases to the right-side of the “V”.
