System engineering health and visualization

Abstract

Complex warfighter systems are increasingly required for continuing United States dominance, which drives a need for high quality Systems Engineering (SE) processes. A System Engineering Health and Visualization (SEHV) capability is needed so that leadership can gain insight into potential SE risk areas, allowing them to be proactive instead of reactive to issues leading to program failures, thus saving time, effort, and costs. This capstone’s purpose was to determine if an automated means of collecting and displaying SE data trends is feasible and effective. To accomplish this, the team analyzed stakeholder’s requirements and performed a literature study on SE leading indicators. Modeling and simulation was performed to further analyze these requirements and provide the best means to obtain SE health data from Space and Naval Warfare System Center Atlantic (SSC-A). This developed the SEHV architecture to include data integration strategy. A conceptual model for the SEHV capability was produced along with acquisition strategies and cost estimates. The research shows a need to incorporate an automated SEHV system into SSC-A’s organization to improve efficiencies in data calls and management insight into the SE health of a program. Additionally, the team identified future research requirements and provided recommendations for management consideration.