Systems Engineering Toolkit
For Rijkswaterstaat, we have developed the Systems Engineering toolbox. This toolbox can be used to improve teamwork while working on Systems Engineering projects. The box contains small cards with brief instructions on how to improve Systems Engineering processes. Each card also contains a QR code that can be scanned to be redirected to the organization’s website. On this website, more background information on this step can be found. This project resulted in a scientific publication in the journal of Systems Research and Behavioral Science. The article can be found here.
The A3AO project
With the A3AO posters, core Systems Engineering information is captured on one A3-sized page with a front and a back. Often the front part is used to present the schemes and figures and the backside is used to clarify the project in text. Presenting the information in this concise and brief way ensures a great project overview. The elements and structure/layout of the A3AO poster are based on extensive research on how to communicate technical matters effectively. The A3AO has been applied and tested in a variety of projects with good results. The A3AO project is still going on to further improve and enhance its practical application. More information can be found on http://www.a3ao.eu/
Value Engineering and value management
Value Engineering and Value Management are methodologies that can complement Systems Engineering. The Centre values these and similar complementary methodologies and studies how they can strengthen one another. For example, we conducted a workshop and survey on Value Engineering during the Systems Engineering Grande Finale in Utrecht, the Netherlands. This resulted in an article in INSIGHT, a Systems Engineering practitioners magazine. In the article, we explain how Value Engineering and Systems Engineering can be combined. The article can be found here.
Systems Engineering maturity scans
We have analysed the Systems Engineering maturity of several organisations. For example, we developed a maturity scan and applied it to the organization and the projects of a Water Board. This revealed some gaps where the Water Board could improve. The maturity scan has been further refined and tested in other organizations too, including an engineering consulting firm and large contractors. The results have been published in the journal Civil Engineering & Environmental Systems, and in the Systems Engineering journal.
ASML Systems Engineering and Systems Architecting Masterclass (SESAM)
Dutch High-tech success company ASML (www.asml.com) has a long history in using Systems Engineering in developing their semiconductor equipment. With the growth in both the systems engineering and development and engineering departments, ASML was seeking for training. Through an intensive 5-day masterclass, we now teach two groups a year in a practical approach to systems engineering, consisting of the SE process, SE tools, Systems Architecting, Risk management, and Systems Thinking. The participants apply these to a company case. A highly appreciated result is that the twelve system thinking tracksare more and more used as a common frame of reference in systems engineering and architecting.
Materials used are Systems Design and Engineering and the NASA systems engineering handbook.
Systems Engineering for Small And Medium Enterprises (SESAME, KIEM-project with Saxion)
While large high-tech companies in the Netherlands already broadly employ systems engineering, small and medium enterprises are struggling with the perceived overhead. In the SESAME KIEM project, Saxion university of applied sciences, University of Twente, together with the companies Riwo, Hencon and Hollander are working on a toolset that is easily adoptable by SMEs.