Simple Techniques for Applying Systems Engineering Principles When You're New to the Game

Many SE practitioners, particularly those who are new to the discipline, can become overwhelmed by the high-end tools and techniques often viewed as necessary for conducting “real” systems engineering. Even though such tools and techniques are common in our applications of systems engineering, INL systems engineers have a long history of using simple, tailored methods to achieve significant success on complex projects. This half-day (4-hour) tutorial is designed to introduce new-comers and seasoned practitioners alike to the overall systems engineering process as it relates to typical project life-cycle phases and to present a few of the “simple” tools (with practical examples) that we have found useful in conducting systems engineering work. Ultimately, attendees will learn how to use items as simple as a white board, pad of engineering paper, and standard desktop software to help a project get from concept to system design without the need for high-end tools and technologies.