A reactive architecture for cloud-based system engineering

PhD ThesisSoftware system engineering is increasingly practised over globally distributed locations. Such a practise is termed as Global Software Development (GSD). GSD has become a business necessity mainly because of the scarcity of resources, cost, and the need to locate development closer to the customers. GSD is highly dependent on requirements management, but system requirements continuously change. Poorly managed change in requirements affects the overall cost, schedule and quality of GSD projects. It is particularly challenging to manage and trace such changes, and hence we require a rigorous requirement change management (RCM) process. RCM is not trivial in collocated software development; and with the presence of geographical, cultural, social and temporal factors, it makes RCM profoundly difficult for GSD. Existing RCM methods do not take into consideration these issues faced in GSD. Considering the state-of-the-art in RCM, design and analysis of architecture, and cloud accountability, this work contributes: 1. an alternative and novel mechanism for effective information and knowledge-sharing towards RCM and traceability. 2. a novel methodology for the design and analysis of small-to-medium size cloud-based systems, with a particular focus on the trade-off of quality attributes. 3. a dependable framework that facilitates the RCM and traceability method for cloud-based system engineering. 4. a novel methodology for assuring cloud accountability in terms of dependability. 5. a cloud-based framework to facilitate the cloud accountability methodology. The results show a traceable RCM linkage between system engineering processes and stakeholder requirements for cloud-based GSD projects, which is better than existing approaches. Also, the results show an improved dependability assurance of systems interfacing with the unpredictable cloud environment. We reach the conclusion that RCM with a clear focus on traceability, which is then facilitated by a dependable framework, improves the chance of developing a cloud-based GSD project successfully

Process Productivity Improvements through Semantic and Linked Data Technologies

Programa de Doctorado en Ciencia y Tecnología Informática por la Universidad Carlos III de MadridPresidente: José María Álvarez Rodríguez.- Secretario: Rafael Valencia García.- Vocal: Alejandro Rodríguez Gonzále

Model Based System Engineering for the development of System on Chip

Abstract. Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) has been utilized in auto manufacturing industries, airplane manufacturing and maintenance, and factory process automation industries. These are some of the complex fields. As SoC design is a complex process and requires years of work, MBSE can reduce time, complexity, reuse, and maintenance costs. It seems a fruitful idea/decision to take MBSE into use in SoC design depending on the previously mentioned elements. System on Chip (SoC) is obtaining the interest of many big companies. Therefore, MBSE will represent a huge competitive advantage once it is taken fully into the systems engineering roles of SoC. The existence of geographically dispersed teams, complexity of systems, interdisciplinarity, personalized system description, and their integration can be enabled by MBSE. As an emerging paradigm for the systems of the 21st century, MBSE paved the way for creating successful systems (for the companies) that are end to end connected. This research focuses on making use of MBSE in SoC. The thesis will show how SoC processes can be implemented in one complete model with top to bottom approach. Firstly, the traditional systems engineering approach has been explained with its tools and examples. Secondly, the need for taking up MBSE by the systems engineers is expressed. This contains the applications, use in modern systems, and benefits of MBSE. Moreover, MBSE methodology tools, languages, and their use in SoC is illustrated with examples. As SoC development is a huge and complex process; therefore, a small component of the chip has been taken in consideration for the purpose of understanding and making of the thesis. MBSE is a model-based approach hence a language needs to be present to produce these models and that language is SysML and OPD/OPL. SysML language and MagicDraw tool is used for expressing the architecture of the system. MagicDraw supports several external evaluators for evaluation of expressions and MATLAB is one of them. With MagicDraw we can do simulations, input parameters, and analyze data by processing on it using algorithms developed in MATLAB

Model-based design and multidisciplinary optimization of complex system architectures in the aircraft cabin

The aviation industry is currently facing major challenges due to environmental and socio-economic trends toward sustainable and digitalized aviation. Revolutionary, more powerful and efficient technologies must be rapidly integrated into aircraft,while aircraft manufacturers must demonstrate the required safety. To support the implementation of new concepts, the DLR Institute of System Architectures in Aeronautics is researching methods for end-to-end digitalization from the preliminary design phase to assembly and production. In this context, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization are important approaches for the development of complex systems. This paper presents a method for the end-to-end use of digital models for multidisciplinary optimization of system architectures. The Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is used to represent the system architecture. The focus is on the cabin and cabin systems, since theyare highly coupled to other aircraft systems and have dynamic, customer-specific configuration requirements. The system architecture in SysML is instantiated and configured by the interface to the aircraft fuselage and cabin design parameter sets in the Common Parametric Configuration Schema. The subsequent coupling of the generated system architecture model with the cabin system design model developed in Matlab allows a multidisciplinary optimization of the system properties. A sensitivity analysis is performed using the Passenger Service Unit as an example. The effects of different cabin configurations on the system architecture are investigated and interdisciplinary synergies are identified and analyzed. The results of this analysis are discussed in this paper

Development of a framework for enhancing resilience in the UK food and drink manufacturing sector

This thesis presents research undertaken to understand and enhance resilience in the UK Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector. It focuses on the development of a conceptual framework which establishes how specific vulnerabilities link to individual mitigation strategies available to the sector and the impact of such strategies on wider sustainability. The research in this thesis is divided into four main parts. The first part consists of three complementary review chapters exploring resilience as a theoretical concept, resilience in the UK Food and Drink Manufacturing sector and existing methods used to study and/or enhance resilience. The second part of the thesis begins by describing how the pragmatic philosophy and abductive stance underpinning the research, in combination with review findings, helped to determine the research techniques used in this work, which included the systematic review process and the mixed methods case study. Next, the research facilitating a novel conceptual framework describing how real-time vulnerabilities can be identified and mitigated in a way that is complimentary to the wider sustainability of the organisation is discussed. [Continues.

APPLICATIONS OF GRAPH THEORY FOR REUSE OF MODEL BASED SYSTEMS ENGINEERING DESIGN DATA

This dissertation contributes to systems engineering (SE) by introducing and demonstrating a novel graph-based design repository (GBDR) tool. GBDR enables engineers to leverage system design information from a heterogenous set of system models created using multiple model based systems engineering (MBSE) software tools as an integrated body of knowledge. Specifically, the research provides a set of approaches that allow the use of system models described in Systems Modeling Language and Lifecycle Modeling Language as an integrated body of design information. The coalesced body of system design information serves to support concept ideation and analysis within SE. The research accomplishes this by using a graph database to store system model information imported from digital artifacts created by MBSE tools and applying principles from graph theory and semantic web technologies to identify likely connections and equivalent concepts across system models, modeling languages, and metamodels. The research demonstrates that the presented tool can import, store, synthesize, search, display, distribute, and export information from multiple MBSE tools. As a practical demonstration, feasible subsystem design alternatives for a small unmanned aircraft system government reference architecture are identified from within a set of existing system models.OSD CAPECivilian, Office of the Secretary of DefenseApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Collaborative traceability management: a multiple case study from the perspectives of organization, process, and culture

Traceability is crucial for many activities in software and systems engineering including monitoring the development progress, and proving compliance with standards. In practice, the use and maintenance of trace links are challenging as artifacts undergo constant change, and development takes place in distributed scenarios with multiple collaborating stakeholders. Although traceability management in general has been addressed in previous studies, there is a need for empirical insights into the collaborative aspects of traceability management and how it is situated in existing development contexts. The study reported in this paper aims to close this gap by investigating the relation of collaboration and traceability management, based on an understanding of characteristics of the development effort. In our multiple exploratory case study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 individuals from 15 industrial projects. We explored which challenges arise, how traceability management can support collaboration, how collaboration relates to traceability management approaches, and what characteristics of the development effort influence traceability management and collaboration. We found that practitioners struggle with the following challenges: (1) collaboration across team and tool boundaries, (2) conveying the benefits of traceability, and (3) traceability maintenance. If these challenges are addressed, we found that traceability can facilitate communication and knowledge management in distributed contexts. Moreover, there exist multiple approaches to traceability management with diverse collaboration approaches, i.e., requirements-centered, developer-driven, and mixed approaches. While traceability can be leveraged in software development with both agile and plan-driven paradigms, a certain level of rigor is needed to realize its benefits and overcome challenges. To support practitioners, we provide principles of collaborative traceability management. The main contribution of this paper is empirical evidence of how culture, processes, and organization impact traceability management and collaboration, and principles to support practitioners with collaborative traceability management. We show that collaboration and traceability management have the potential to be mutually beneficial—when investing in one, also the other one is positively affected

Production Engineering and Management

The annual International Conference on Production Engineering and Management takes place for the sixth time his year, and can therefore be considered a well - established event that is the result of the joint effort of the OWL University of Applied Sciences and the University of Trieste. The conference has been established as an annual meeting under the Double Degree Master Program ‘Production Engineering and Management’ by the two partner universities. The main goal of the conference is to provide an opportunity for students, researchers and professionals from Germany, Italy and abroad, to meet and exchange information, discuss experiences, specific practices and technical solutions used in planning, design and management of production and service systems. In addition, the conference is a platform aimed at presenting research projects, introducing young academics to the tradition of Symposiums and promoting the exchange of ideas between the industry and the academy. Especially the contributions of successful graduates of the Double Degree Master Program ‘Production Engineering and Management’ and those of other postgraduate researchers from several European countries have been enforced. This year’s special focus is on Direct Digital Manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0, a topic of great interest for the global industry. The concept is spreading, but the actual solutions must be presented in order to highlight the practical benefits to industry and customers. Indeed, as Henning Banthien, Secretary General of the German ‘Plattform Industrie 4.0’ project office, has recently remarked, “Industry 4.0 requires a close alliance amongst the private sector, academia, politics and trade unions” in order to be “translated into practice and be implemented now”. PEM 2016 takes place between September 29 and 30, 2016 at the OWL University of Applied Sciences in Lemgo. The program is defined by the Organizing and Scientific Committees and clustered into scientific sessions covering topics of main interest and importance to the participants of the conference. The scientific sessions deal with technical and engineering issues, as well as management topics, and include contributions by researchers from academia and industry. The extended abstracts and full papers of the contributions underwent a double - blind review process. The 24 accepted presentations are assigned, according to their subject, to one of the following sessions: ‘Direct Digital Manufacturing in the Context of Industry 4.0’, ‘Industrial Engineering and Lean Management’, ‘Management Techniques and Methodologies’, ‘Wood Processing Technologies and Furniture Production’ and ‘Innovation Techniques and Methodologies