A single source of truth. This is one of the most used and most overloaded terms in model-based systems engineering – perhaps second only to “model” itself. A clear and compelling objective on the surface, it is shorthand representing an aspiration for project teams and a benefit of adopting MBSE. …

By David Long, Vitech President Just like simplicity, not all precision is helpful. Heresy? Not for engineers. Engineers are taught to use the appropriate degree of precision for the circumstance at hand. Unfortunately, as systems engineers, we too often forget those lessons. The quest for precision can lead us astray, …

Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) … model-driven development (MDD) … model-based engineering (MBE) … model-centric engineering (MCE) … digital thread … digital tapestry. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare famously wrote “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” In the case of systems engineering and the drive to models, …

When teaching classes on model-based systems engineering, I am frequently asked about methods to manage different system configurations in the model. Most engineers are very comfortable thinking in part structures, and while this is a critical aspect of systems engineering, it’s not the whole story. To answer the question and …