Systems engineering (SE), or the engineering of large-scale systems, is key to achieving reliable, efficient, cost-effective products and services in diverse fields, including communication and network systems, software engineering, information systems, manufacturing, command and control, and defense systems acquisition and procurement.

This book offers a unique introduction to the world of systems engineering, focusing on analysis and problem-solving techniques that can be applied throughout the life cycle of product systems and service systems. While the authors provide a framework for the functional levels involved in systems engineering processes and system management, the bulk of the discussion is devoted to the practical application of formulation, analysis, and interpretation methods.

Through the use of real-world examples and useful graphs, readers will learn to:

• Choose the most appropriate methods and tools for a given project
• Apply issue formulation methods to assure that the right problem has been identified
• Work with formal analysis methods to assure that the problem is solved correctly
• Apply issue interpretation methods to insure that decisions reflect human values and technological realities, and thereby make interpretation work for them in the decision-making process
• Develop an appreciation for the engineering and troubleshooting of large systems

This book shows the reader how to write a system engineering management plan (SEMP) that reflects the company’s identity and is appropriate to most customers’ requirements, e.g., MIL-STD-499, ISO 9001, the U.S. Air Force Integrated Management System, and EIA STD 632.The first section of this book provides a brief introduction to the process of developing a SEMP. The remainder contains a source model of a SEMP that is generic in nature. A computer disk is included with the book to provide the SEMP in a form (Microsoft Word) that can be used for the reader’s own plan.