What Are the Challenges of Adopting MBSE Tools?

Managing complex systems has become a critical challenge for organizations in today's fast-paced technological landscape. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) provides a structured, model-driven approach that revolutionizes how teams design, analyze, and manage systems.

MBSE facilitates better collaboration, understanding, and decision-making throughout a system’s lifecycle by using models as the central artifact of the systems engineering process. However, like any transformative change, adopting MBSE tools has its share of hurdles.

This blog explores the challenges organizations face when adopting MBSE tools and demonstrates how SPEC Innovations' Innoslate platform helps overcome these barriers, making the transition smoother and more rewarding.

#1 High-Learning Curve

One of the most common barriers to MBSE adoption is the steep learning curve associated with many tools. These tools often require significant technical expertise, so team members must invest considerable time and effort to become proficient. This necessity for extensive training can be daunting, as it involves understanding complex software functionalities and grasping the underlying principles of Model-Based Systems Engineering itself.

Consequently, the training process becomes time-intensive, often stretching over several weeks or even months, which can delay the adoption of MBSE practices within an organization. During this period, productivity can be adversely affected in the short term as teams work to get up to speed. Employees may find themselves juggling their regular responsibilities with the demands of learning new systems, leading to potential disruptions in workflow and efficiency.

This initial dip in productivity can be a significant concern for organizations eager to maintain momentum and meet project deadlines, making the learning curve a critical challenge to address when implementing MBSE tools.

How Innoslate Helps: Innoslate is designed with an intuitive, web-based interface that minimizes the learning curve. Unlike many competitors whose training programs span up to five days, you can master the basics of Innoslate in just one day. For even greater flexibility, our self-paced online training lets users learn on their own schedule, ensuring a seamless onboarding experience.

#2 Resistance to Change

Switching from traditional document-based methods to a model-centric approach can be met with significant resistance within teams. This resistance often stems from a deep-rooted fear of disrupting well-established processes that have been in place for years, if not decades. Team members may worry that adopting a new system will lead to confusion, inefficiencies, or even errors during the transition period.

Additionally, there is often skepticism about the value of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), as some team members may question whether the benefits of this new approach truly outweigh the comfort and familiarity of existing methods. Concerns about the time and effort required to learn and implement MBSE tools can further exacerbate these doubts, making gaining widespread acceptance and enthusiasm for the change challenging.

How Innoslate Helps: Innoslate simplifies the transition by providing a familiar interface and tools that integrate seamlessly into existing workflows. We recommend starting with pilot projects that showcase quick wins and value-added results. By engaging stakeholders early and demonstrating tangible benefits, you can build confidence and buy-in across the team.

#3 Integration

Organizations often depend on a diverse array of tools and platforms to manage various facets of their operations, ranging from project management and data analysis to communication and collaboration. Each of these tools serves a specific purpose, contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. However, the introduction of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools into this complex ecosystem requires careful consideration.

MBSE tools must integrate seamlessly with existing systems to ensure smooth workflows and prevent the creation of inefficiencies, such as redundant processes or data silos, which can lead to significant frustration among team members. Without proper integration, valuable data can become isolated within different platforms, hindering access and collaboration and ultimately impacting the organization's ability to make informed decisions. Therefore, achieving seamless integration is crucial for maintaining operational harmony and maximizing the benefits of MBSE tools.

How Innoslate Helps: Innoslate supports integration with popular tools such as GitHub, STK, MATLAB, ChatGPT, and more. This interoperability ensures your team can leverage existing platforms while centralizing your systems engineering efforts within a powerful tool.

#4 Scalability

As systems continue to grow in complexity, MBSE tools must be capable of scaling effectively to handle increasingly large volumes of data, a diverse array of stakeholders, and constantly evolving requirements. This scalability is crucial because, as the scope and intricacy of systems expand, the tools must be able to process and manage vast datasets without compromising performance. Additionally, they must support collaboration among numerous stakeholders, each with unique roles and responsibilities, ensuring everyone can seamlessly access and contribute to the system's development.

Furthermore, as requirements change and evolve, the tools must be adaptable enough to incorporate these changes without causing disruptions. If MBSE tools lack proper scalability, it can result in significant performance issues, such as slow processing times and system crashes, severely hindering productivity. Moreover, reduced usability can occur, making it difficult for team members to navigate and utilize the tools effectively, ultimately impacting the overall success of the systems engineering process.

How Innoslate Helps: Innoslate’s cloud-native design is built to grow with your team. It supports up to 10 million entities and 500 simultaneous users, and its role-based access controls ensure efficient collaboration across large, dynamic teams.

#5 Cost and Resource Constraints

The cost of MBSE tools can be a significant barrier for many organizations, as these expenses encompass a wide range of financial commitments. Initially, there are licensing fees, which can vary greatly depending on the complexity and capabilities of the software chosen. These fees are often recurring, adding to the long-term financial burden. Beyond licensing, there is a need for substantial infrastructure investment to support the implementation of these tools. This may include upgrading existing hardware, acquiring new servers, or enhancing network capabilities to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

Additionally, organizations must allocate resources for comprehensive training programs to equip their teams with the necessary skills to utilize MBSE tools effectively. This training is not a one-time event but requires ongoing sessions to keep up with software updates and evolving methodologies. Furthermore, maintenance costs must be considered, as regular updates and technical support are essential to keep the systems running smoothly and securely. Ongoing support, whether through in-house IT teams or external consultants, is crucial to address any issues and ensure that the tools continue to meet the organization's needs. These combined factors can make the financial commitment to MBSE tools daunting, requiring careful budgeting and strategic planning to manage effectively.

How Innoslate Helps: Innoslate offers flexible licensing options to suit various budgets with no maintenance costs. As a comprehensive, all-in-one platform for system modeling and requirements management, it effectively consolidates multiple functionalities into a single solution, eliminating the need for costly add-ons and additional tools that organizations might need to purchase separately. This integration streamlines the systems engineering process and significantly reduces overall expenses by minimizing the financial burden of acquiring and maintaining multiple disparate software solutions. Providing a unified platform ensures that all necessary tools are readily available within one cohesive environment, enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness for organizations. Studies show that allocating just 10% of your project budget to systems engineering—such as using an MBSE tool like Innoslate—can deliver a 1,000% ROI.

Related Reading: Return on Investment of MBSE.

Overcome MBSE Adoption Challenges with Innoslate

Adopting MBSE tools doesn’t have to be daunting. By addressing common challenges head-on, organizations can unlock MBSE's full potential and revolutionize their systems engineering practices. SPEC Innovations’ Innoslate removes traditional barriers, offering an intuitive, scalable, cost-effective solution to help you achieve your goals.

Ready to leap into MBSE? Contact us today to schedule a personalized demo and learn how Innoslate can transform your systems engineering processes.

Continue your journey to adopting model-based systems engineering by downloading the comprehensive eBook Real MBSE, which is used in major universities worldwide.