Applying Systems Engineering to the Design Process from Coursera

In this course, you will learn what a systems engineer does. Following the conceptual foundations from The Need for Systems Engineering, you will perform requirements analysis and functional analysis on engineering programs. You will learn how to perform a trade study using a methodical, quantitative approach that is universal in application. This course also covers preparing design reviews, focusing on coordinating the inputs of multiple engineering disciplines into a cohesive description of the design approach.

This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

What's inside

Syllabus

Requirements and Performance Metrics

We will begin the course by revisiting the topic of requirements. Now that we know what requirements are and how to write them, we will examine what requirements management is all about. On a long-duration development program, we also need a way to measure our progress from a technical standpoint toward requirement compliance. A great tool for this is to think of it in terms of Measures of Performance. At the tactical level on a design team, we will execute that by establishing a small number of Technical Performance Measures, or TPMs. These important performance attributes will keep the design team focused on the customer's most important requirements and they will help assess our progress toward meeting those objectives.

Design Reviews and Technology Readiness

In this module, will begin by describing the overall design process by tying in the concepts that we have learned to date into something that can be planned and tracked during execution. We will then learn about the "Big Three" design reviews, namely the System Requirements Review, or SRR; the Preliminary Design Review, or PDR; and the Critical Design Review, or CDR. In addition to the reviews, the Systems Engineering process also incorporates a series of audits to ensure that the documentation is all squared away. The most commonly used audits are the Functional and Physical Configuration Audits, the FCA and PCA.

Manufacturing Readiness and Trade Studies

In this module, we will go over the topic of manufacturability. How do incorporate manufacturability considerations into the design process? It is considered so important that it has its own acronym, DFM, or Design for Manufacturability. We will also cover the process used for evaluating how ready a company is to scale up from low-volume development to high-volume production. In the second part of the module, we will learn about trade studies and how to conduct one.

Other Engineering Disciplines

In this module, we are going to learn about what I call the "other engineering disciplines." I am going to group Software into this very loosely defined umbrella title with the hopes that I don't earn the ire of those who have chosen that as their profession. Rhis is more a sign of my own lack of close familiarity with the discipline. I have learned that managing development programs that include a significant software effort deserves special consideration when it comes to coordinating software development with hardware development and properly allocating time and resources to get both sides of the development effort completed. I will also cover what I call "the -illities" or the engineering disciplines like Reliability, Maintainability and others. I may even work in a few F/A-18 stories along the way!

Organization for Systems Engineering

In this final module, we will look at how our most precious asset, our people, are assigned to a particular design effort. What are some of the important considerations that go into those decisions. We will also look at some of my favorite leadership traits from my time in the Marine Corps and how those can be applied to working in the aerospace industry. Systems Engineering is by nature a leadership role, at least at certain times, so it is important to think about leadership well before the moment we find ourselves in the spotlight.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces concepts that are highly relevant in engineering management

Presents various engineering disciplines and their relevance to systems engineering

Provides a structured approach for requirements analysis and functional analysis

Focuses on preparing design reviews and coordinating inputs from multiple engineering disciplines

Covers various audits, such as Functional and Physical Configuration Audits, to ensure documentation accuracy

Offers a comprehensive overview of the systems engineering design process

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Applying Systems Engineering to the Design Process with these activities:

Read 'Systems Engineering: Principles and Practice' by Alexander Kossiakoff

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Enhance understanding of systems engineering principles and best practices by reading a comprehensive text.

View Systems Engineering Principles and Practice... on Amazon

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Purchase or obtain the book
Set aside dedicated time for reading
Take notes and highlight key concepts

Attend Industry Webinars on Systems Engineering

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Participate in industry webinars to learn from experts and gain insights into real-world systems engineering practices.

Browse courses on Systems Engineering

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Identify relevant industry webinars
Register for webinars and attend live or recorded sessions

Requirements Analysis Exercises

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Practice writing and analyzing requirements to improve understanding and ensure completeness and consistency.

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Identify stakeholders and gather requirements
Classify and prioritize requirements
Develop use cases and scenarios
Create a requirements traceability matrix

One other activity

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Design a Systems Engineering Plan

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Develop a plan outlining the systems engineering process for a hypothetical project, incorporating the concepts learned in the course.

Browse courses on Systems Engineering

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Identify project scope and objectives
Define system requirements
Create a functional decomposition
Conduct trade studies and select design options
Develop a system architecture

Career center

Learners who complete Applying Systems Engineering to the Design Process will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers are responsible for the overall design and integration of complex systems, such as aircraft, spacecraft, and medical devices. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex systems projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineers are responsible for the design, development, testing, and operation of aircraft, spacecraft, and other aerospace systems. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex aerospace projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Aerospace Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineers design, develop, and test mechanical systems, such as engines, turbines, and robotics. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex mechanical systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineers design, develop, and test electrical systems, such as power plants, electrical grids, and telecommunications systems. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex electrical systems projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and test software systems. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex software systems projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Chemical Engineer

Chemical Engineers design, develop, and test chemical processes and products. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex chemical engineering projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer

Civil Engineer

Civil Engineers design, develop, and test civil infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and buildings. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex civil infrastructure projects.

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Reliability Engineer

Reliability Engineers design, develop, and test reliability systems and processes. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex reliability engineering projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Reliability Engineer

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Engineers design, develop, and test biomedical devices and systems. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex biomedical engineering projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer

Industrial Engineer

Industrial Engineers design, develop, and test industrial processes and systems. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex industrial engineering projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineers design, develop, and test manufacturing processes and systems. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex manufacturing engineering projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Manufacturing Engineer

Quality Engineer

Quality Engineers design, develop, and test quality control systems and processes. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex quality engineering projects.

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Safety Engineer

Safety Engineers design, develop, and test safety systems and processes. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex safety engineering projects.

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Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for the overall planning, execution, and control of projects. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Engineering Manager

Engineering Managers are responsible for the overall management of engineering teams and projects. This course can help you build a strong foundation in the principles of systems engineering, which are essential for success in this field. You will learn how to define and manage requirements, conduct trade studies, and perform design reviews. This knowledge will be invaluable as you work on complex engineering projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engineering Manager