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Review of Standard Tools

Mark E. Sampson

UPDATED 12/20/04

EMIS 8390

Systems Engineering Tool—applying tools to engineering systems

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Standard Desktop Tools

…according to a time & motion study by TI, Systems Engineers spend 50% of their time writing documents, 25% of their time re-entering the same information in different locations, 14% of their time futzing (technical term for getting documents to print correctly), and 30% of their time in meetings,…

…you’ll notice it adds up to greater than 100% due to average SE workweek of 60+ hours

One of the fundamental purposes of Tools is to accelerate your job.

[Sampson 1994]

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Keeping the architect ahead of construction crews

…analysis by TI, Gartner, and others shows 50% of programs go runaway. Standish claims the majority of those are caused by a failure to define, deliver, and keep-up-with requirements.

Runaway’s are characterized by late cycle changes, heroic integration efforts, …, and “architects documenting what the construction crews are building” rather than leading the way.

…lack of direction/leadership increases probability of a runaway.

Goal of tools is to keep the architect ahead of construction crew…it’s the carrot

[Sampson 1994]

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Why documents…

Given the amount of time spent on documents, it’s easy to get confused about what the systems engineering product is…

…a document? Or a design?

A discussion about wheelbarrows.

DESIGN

SPEC.

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DESIGNSPEC.

DESIGNSPEC.

Documents…a means of conveying design decisions

Tools are used to accelerate the capture and delivery of design information. Documents are one way to do that.

Upside of documents:• Codify the design• Communication• Culturally acceptable• How you get paid

The downside of documents:• Paper based baselines & management systems• No body reads them• Obsolete by the time you print them• Give you a good feeling about project if documents are on schedule

DESIGNSPEC.

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Standard Desktop Tools—Word Processors

Word, Word Perfect, Framemaker, Interleaf, and other intelligent word processors

• Simple: Word, Word Perfect,…for reports, documents,…• Complex: Framemaker, Interleaf…books, etc.

Using Field codes/references tagging as a database

Example: Vitalink using Framemaker with tags…http://www.complianceautomation.com/

Page formatting languages(ROF with tagging)

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Standard Desktop Tools--Spreadsheets

Excel and other spreadsheets…

• Macros• Visual Basic

Spreadsheet based systems engineering

Embedded applications…• Crystal Ball• Matlab• SAS• Risk Managers

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Standard Desktop Tools--Presenters

Powerpoint and other presentation tools…

“Powerpoint engineering”

• Visual Basic• Animations

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Standard Desktop Tools--Databases

Relational: like Access, Paradox,…OracleObject: ObjectStore, Versant,…

• “Systems Engineers love to roll-their-own” • “Vast majority of requirements/traceability is held in Access”

Combine word processor with database:

Example: Rational Requisite Pro

http://www.rational.com/products/reqpro/index.jsp

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Standard Tools—Yellow Sticky Notes

Post-it® Sticky Notes

How used…• Brainstorming…example from class or my choosing

• Organizing information • Decomposition• …

Electronic version: http://www.3m.com/market/office/postit/com_prod/psnotes/

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Class SE Environment

UGS/SMU is making available…

• Teamcenter Requirements and

• Teamcenter Community for class usage…

Why Teamcenter?• Freely-available for students • Web-based tools for lifecycle collaboration…• Short-learning curves

You can use whatever tools are available to you…including Word, Excel, Access, etc.

Assignments are delivered in electronic form (see assignment requirements)

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Product Lifecycle ProcessProduct Lifecycle Process

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Product Lifecycle ProcessProduct Lifecycle Process

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Integrating the VOC with the Lifecycle…

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Some of TcR’s user extensible building blocks...

Building Blocks are used to build things--products, organizations, test systems, processes, etc.

Requirements capture the intent of the product design, goals, performance objectives--what you are going to verify & how you know you are done.

Folders for organizing information—Requirements, issues, etc..

Notes provide a project notebook for documenting decisions, action items, critical issues, test results, etc.

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We use these building blocks to capture systems...

Car

Engine Trans-mission

Clutch

Block Fuel System

Electrical PowerTrain

Body

TechnicalPerformanceTargets

RequirementsLinks

These blocks can be connected like “tinker toys”to describe things like this vehicle...

Notes

Block Fuel System

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Requirements PoolRegulatio

ns

Standards

Customer

Spec’s

CustomerInputsMeetings

Technology

PR’s

Lessons Learned

Design

Spec’s

Test

Doc’s

Web

Doc’s

User

Doc’s

Organizing Requirements

TcR Overview

Why’s

Doc’s

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Goal…apply/reuse managed data in early product development

PDM

Data Mgmt

Integrating Systems Engineering & Requirements with Teamcenter

Regulations

Standards

Customer

Spec’s

CustomerInputsMeetings

Technology

PR’s

Lessons Learned

TcR

Early Prod. Design

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TcR Demo

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TcRequirements/TcCommunity Configuration Requirements

TcRequirement/TcCommunity connect existing desktop tools to a multiuser database to create a collaborative SE environment…I.e. when a user double clicks on a requirement, it launches Word to edit the requirement

• TcRequirements requires: • Standard PC running Windows 2000+• MS Office 2000, XP, 2003 (preferred)• Web access with standard web browser (MS IE 5.5+)

Pointing web browser at server, installs Java applet, and starts…LMCO firewalls have some issues…see Community site for installation instructions

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TcRequirements Access

Browser Access: http://www.tcreq.com/tcr51 Userid: se2team1…

1. Pick an administrator…2. Establish access for team members3. Try it out from home

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TcCommunity Demo

Provides: • Online, web-based collaboration• Discussion threads, white boards, etc. • Document repository, CM,…• Application sharing,…• Routing/Approvals…• Course AssignmentStatus

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TcCommunity Access

Browser Access: http://mycommunity.ugs.com/customers/LMCO_SE/default.aspx

1. Userid’s have already been established…first initial, last name

2. Login, change your access3. Try it out from home start loading your documents

there…