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Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) has revolutionized how complex systems are designed, developed, and managed. Yet many practitioners focus narrowly on modeling visuals, without tapping into the full potential of MBSE throughout a system’s lifecycle.
The final installment of our Real MBSE webinar series sheds light on the often-overlooked but critical aspects of operations, DevOps, and disposal, and how integrating these with MBSE can lead to real-world systems engineering success.
One of the biggest issues with typical MBSE approaches is that they center around diagrams rather than the underlying data and information. Real MBSE emphasizes that the true power lies in capturing detailed system knowledge, including cost, schedule, risk, operations, support, and disposal data, in a structured and accessible form.
By maintaining a comprehensive digital database rather than static documents, operators and maintainers gain immediate access to essential information for effective decision-making during operations and sustainment phases. This seamless flow of information ultimately leads to improved reliability, safety, and cost efficiency throughout the system lifecycle.
DevOps practices, which originated in software engineering, also align naturally with MBSE to optimize system operations and maintenance. Integrating MBSE tools with DevOps environments, including platforms such as GitHub and Selenium, enables continuous feedback loops, automated testing, and rapid deployment cycles. This integration helps maintain system quality and accelerates problem resolution during operations.
Moreover, MBSE provides a governance framework over underlying operational processes, ensuring compliance with standards such as ISO 9001, CMMC, and SOC 2. Continuous process improvement, risk mitigation, and workforce safety all benefit from embedding DevOps within MBSE operations management.
Disposal is often the neglected last phase of the system lifecycle. However, developing a clear, comprehensive disposal plan is critical for sustainability and stakeholder confidence. For example, in challenging environments such as lunar bases, waste disposal planning, especially for nuclear materials, requires careful consideration of radiation containment and environmental impact.
Real MBSE encourages early-lifecycle planning that incorporates disposal scenarios into the operational concept. This foresight helps identify gaps and risks early on, enabling efficient end-of-life transitions and reducing costly surprises.
Capturing user feedback and incorporating AI tools enhances systems engineering practices. Innoslate shows how integrated AI assistants (leveraging ChatGPT and local LLMs) can support users with help and feature requests directly within the MBSE environment. This approach fosters continuous improvement of processes and tools while ensuring that user needs directly inform the evolution of engineering.
Real MBSE goes well beyond creating static diagrams. It is about capturing all lifecycle aspects (engineering, operations, support, and disposal) with data-driven methodologies that improve decision-making, optimize cost, schedule, and performance, and mitigate risk.
Systems engineers must embrace this holistic approach, leveraging integrated tools and processes, incorporating DevOps practices, and planning comprehensively for system disposal to truly succeed in today’s complex project environments.