Systems engineering: a process for integrating the whole product lifecycle

Whether it be for new products or derivative products, it is important to adopt a systems engineering approach from the earliest stages of a product introduction process. If a product is well-engineered at the earliest stages, then there is little chance of there being a significant system integration problem further downstream. This will enable the company to reduce both the product lead-time and the cost of development and manufacture. It will also allow the company to assess the product´s development potential and to advance its pre-planned product improvement analysis. The paper considers how diagrammatic models can provide a structure for a knowledge-based system, KBS, which incorporates appropriate textual information to support each and every activity within the process. This KBS must be readily and easily accessible by all interested parties in the business directorate. Clearly, this KBS can be most readily accessed through a company intranet. Defence companies are not able to utilise the Internet for security reasons but they are now developing their intranet infrastructures