Defining a Model-Based Systems Engineering Approach for Systems Engineering Technical Reviews

Abstract

The DoD Digital Engineering Strategy calls for formalized planning, development, integration, management, and use of models to support systems engineering activities and decision-making across the lifecycle. As DoD organizations migrate to a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) environment, efficiencies will be gained by making the model the focus of engineering development activities throughout the engineering and acquisition lifecycle. Technical reviews will be key benefactors of this environment because model-based reviews allow for complexity to be managed more efficiently, and data, in lieu of “systems engineering products,” will be the commodity used to evaluate the technical review criteria. Current technical reviews are based around lengthy reviews of static, contractually obligated documents that are used to demonstrate successful completion of the review criteria. MBSE technical reviews will provide greater insight with faster comprehension for the details across a program’s lifecycle. This will not only provide efficiencies for the review, but will also improve the program’s cost and schedule efficiency. This paper presents preliminary findings from our ongoing research by discussing the systems engineering activities that are performed during the system acquisition lifecycle and technical reviews from an MBSE perspective. These activities will then be evaluated to see how MBSE will complement technical reviews.