1.2.1 System Engineering Competency The Missing Element in Engineering Education

Abstract

The "engineering of systems" performed in many organizations is often characterized as chaotic, ineffective, and inefficient. Objective evidence of these characteristics is reflected in program performance metrics such as non-compliance to requirements, overrun budgets, and late schedule deliveries. Causal analysis reveals a number of factors contribute to this condition: a lack of technical leadership, a lack of understanding the user's problem / solution spaces, point design architectures and solutions, a lack of integrated decision making, et al. Further analysis indicates these factors are symptomatic of a much larger competency issue traceable to undergraduate engineering education -the lack of a course in Systems Engineering fundamentals taught by seasoned instructors with robust, industrial experience acquired from a diversity of small to large, complex systems. This paper explores the ad hoc, chaotic, and dysfunctional nature of technical planning and execution. We trace its origins to the industrial Plug and Chug … Specify-Design-Build-Test-Fix Paradigm and its predecessor Plug and Chug … Design-Build-Test-Fix Paradigm acquired informally in engineering school. Whereas these paradigms may be effective for academic application, they are not suitable or scalable to larger, complex system, product, or service development efforts.The solution is to bolster the competency of the engineering workforce at two stages: 1) upgrade undergraduate engineering education to include a System Engineering fundamentals course and 2) shift the industrial System Engineering paradigm through education and training to employ scalable SE problem solving / solution development methodologies for projects ranging in size from small to large, complex systems.

Logistics Systems Engineer – Interdisciplinary Competence Model for Modern Education

“…The models usually solve this by flexibly defining various proficiency levels, as understandably a working model must retain some adaptability. Our analyzed selection consists of: a) Designated logistician profile by SOLE [42], b) Logistics professional by European Logistics Association (ELA) [43] c) International Diploma in Logistics by Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) [44] d) Distribution and logistics managers' competency model by The Association for Operations Management (APICS) [45] On the question of which model of systems engineering competence to utilize as initial basis for comparison, we selected the model by MITRE, taking into account that: 1) the model appeared to have the best balance across a variety of factors; 2) it is much detailed; 3) it had the best structure of the models reviewed, which considerably simplified the analysis. The methodological approach is visualized on Fig.…”

Design & Development of a 3D-Printed Quadcopter Using A System Engineering Approach in an Electrical Engineering Master’s Capstone Course

“…To bolster competency of engineering professions, Wasson proposes a competency in system engineering to strengthen undergraduate and graduate engineering programs 6 . Wasson cites that engineering projects tend to be component-centric.…”

“…Wasson cites that engineering projects tend to be component-centric. Wasson 6 and Erwin 7 discusses projects in engineering schools that receive little or no guidance or direction concerning the design process. Samson and Lowery 8 notes that engineering graduates are missing system engineering skills as well as communications and interpersonal skills.…”

“…8 Wasson also identified a need to integrate SE concepts, principles, and practices into engineering programs. This will significantly upgrade the knowledge and skills of new engineering graduates to meet demands of the public and private workforce 6 .…”

“…5 Major blocks of the system include: (1) the quadcopter frame, (2) the control system, and (3) the power and thrust system. The last part of the paper attempts to compare the Vee Model system engineering approach with alternative implementations of the capstone engineering courses by other colleges and universities [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . Specifically, any capstone projects involving 3D printing and Arduinos to design a quadcopter are investigated and summarized [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] .…”