We talk a lot about “modeling language” in the world of systems engineering. That phrase gets used in a variety of ways with different meanings. It is the focus of discussions of standards. And yet, the variety of the usage of “modeling language” has some deleterious effects on the understanding …

When engineers speak about model-based systems engineering, or MBSE, the term “model” is used in many ways. Unfortunately, this only creates confusion between systems engineers, modeling and simulation engineers, and detail engineers. We all use models, so does this mean we’re now model-based? No. Remember that MBSE was devised as …

Often—and more often than one might think—we hear statements from customers and prospects along the lines of, “I heard MBSE would help us—it’s the latest thing. I hear that Tool X is the ‘industry standard.’ It’s cheap/simple/used by organization Y. If you buy tool X and start building models, it …

We all understand that our complicated world is giving way to a more complex one. We also recognize that our systems engineering techniques used to create modular designs are breaking down as we deal with new levels of complexity. It seems we don’t talk so much about modularity and its …