Model based systems engineering as enabler for rapid engineering change management

Abstract

Product complexity is steadily increasing, customers are demanding more individualized products and market conditions are changing more frequently. To be able to increase customer satisfaction, while decreasing development lead-time under these conditions, the product development process (PDP) has to become more agile. One of the major challenges in implementing an agile PDP is the rapid adaptation to changed conditions and requirements. Due to the physical and multi-disciplinary relationships and dependencies the change management and execution in the development of cyber-physical products is highly complex and time consuming.In this paper an approach is presented, which enables a rapid engineering change management, by using model based systems engineering (MBSE) on parameter level.This MBSE approach incorporates a link between relevant system parameters and the domain-specific models and by that allows the quick estimation of change request impacts. In addition, it can be shown, that the execution of engineering changes can be supported even semi-automated to drastically reduce execution time. If the domain specific models are fully parameterized an automated execution of these models from within the system model is possible which enables a semi-automated or even fully automated execution of engineering changes as it is shown in an example for the requested material change of an A-pillar of an electrical vehicle.