Configuration Management – A Core Competence for Successful through-life Systems Engineering and Engineering Services

AbstractThrough-life engineering services depend on capabilities to track and trace long-living systems and their components throughout the lifecycle. System configurations need to be known to (re)engineer, build, operate, maintain, and dispose systems in a sustainable way. Configuration Management (CM) is an approach to control system configurations with dedicated engineering processes, methods and tools – today foremost supported by information systems. This paper motivates CM implementation for through-life engineering services and systems engineering and related topics such as PSS (Product-Service Systems) and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul). CM fundamentals and related engineering activities are introduced briefly. Different CM views and daily challenges of CM for long-living complex systems are investigated. Software support for CM is discussed on the basis of PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions. The paper highlights points that need attention for CM implementation (CM data and process management) by means of PLM. The paper summarizes requirements for CM based on PDM/PLM solutions, which are relevant for PLM solution vendors and for engineering companies and manufacturers moving towards PSS and MRO. The paper is written form an engineering perspective

Mixed-Initiative Activity Planning for Mars Rovers

One of the ground tools used to operate the Mars Exploration Rovers is a mixed-initiative planning system called MAPGEN. The role of the system is to assist operators building daily plans for each of the rovers, maximizing science return, while maintaining rover safety and abiding by science and engineering constraints. In this paper, we describe the MAPGEN system, focusing on the mixed-initiative planning aspect. We note important challenges, both in terms of human interaction and in terms of automated reasoning requirements. We then describe the approaches taken in MAPGEN, focusing on the novel methods developed by our team

Envisioning Model-Based Performance Engineering Frameworks.

Abstract Our daily activities depend on complex software systems that must guarantee certain performance. Several approaches have been devised in the last decade to validate software systems against performance requirements. However, software designers still encounter problems in the interpretation of performance analysis results (e.g., mean values, probability distribution functions) and in the definition of design alternatives (e.g., to split a software component in two and redeploy one of them) aimed at fulfilling performance requirements. This paper describes a general model-based performance engineering framework to support designers in dealing with such problems aimed at enhancing the system. The framework relies on a formalization of the knowledge needed in order to characterize performance flaws and provide alternative system design. Such knowledge can be instantiated based on the techniques devised for interpreting performance analysis results and providing feedback to designers. Three techniques are considered in this paper for instantiating the framework and the main challenges to face during such process are pointed out and discussed

Safety-Critical Systems and Agile Development: A Mapping Study

In the last decades, agile methods had a huge impact on how software is developed. In many cases, this has led to significant benefits, such as quality and speed of software deliveries to customers. However, safety-critical systems have widely been dismissed from benefiting from agile methods. Products that include safety critical aspects are therefore faced with a situation in which the development of safety-critical parts can significantly limit the potential speed-up through agile methods, for the full product, but also in the non-safety critical parts. For such products, the ability to develop safety-critical software in an agile way will generate a competitive advantage. In order to enable future research in this important area, we present in this paper a mapping of the current state of practice based on {a mixed method approach}. Starting from a workshop with experts from six large Swedish product development companies we develop a lens for our analysis. We then present a systematic mapping study on safety-critical systems and agile development through this lens in order to map potential benefits, challenges, and solution candidates for guiding future research.Comment: Accepted at Euromicro Conf. on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications 2018, Prague, Czech Republi

Enterprise Experience into the Integration of Human-Centered Design and Kanban

he integration of Human-Centered Design (HCD) and Agile Software Development (ASD) promises the development of competitive products comprising a good User Experience (UX). This study has investigated the integration of HCD and Kanban with the aim to gain industrial experiences in a real world context. A case study showed that requirements flow into the development process in a structured manner by adding a design board. To this end, the transparency concerning recurring requirements increased. We contribute to the body of knowledge of software development by providing practical insights into Human-Centered Agile Development (HCAD). On one hand, it is shown that the integration of HCD and Kanban leads to a product with a good UX and makes the development process more human-centered. On the other hand, we conclude that a cross-functional collaboration speeds up product development.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2013-46928-C3-3-RMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad TIN2015-71938-RED

Challenges in the industrialization process of low-volume production systems

A critical part of new product development projects is the industrialization process of new products which affects both time and the cost. The industrialization of new products or variants in low-volume production systems has some specific challenges which are caused by characteristics of low-volume products and production systems. Therefore, an exploratory case study is made within two Swedish manufacturing companies to understand these challenges and compare the industrialization process in high and low volume production systems. The results of the multiple case studies indicate four challenges including knowledge transfer from the projects into production, development of the work instructions, the need for a higher level of training of the operators and production system design and the obligatory tailoring of the new products to the existing production systems