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Wayne State University

IE6490: Introduction to Systems Engineering in Design Course, Fall 2013

Instructor:
Dean Pichette
Phone: (313) 577-5473
e-mail: dpichette@wayne.edu

Course Description:
This course provides an introduction to the engineering and analysis of human-made
systems with an emphasis on the process of bringing systems into being. It will include
an introduction to systems sciences and engineering and will follow the engineering
process from conceptual systems design through concept selection, concept validation,
life-cycle acquisition, life-cycle costing, software development, system architecture, and
risk management. This course will also address system engineering program evaluation
including: evaluation requirements, evaluation of the system engineering organization,
and program reporting, feedback, and control. Text book and lecture material will be
reinforced via problems, exercises, and a term project framing and defining a system
engineering opportunity.

Course Objectives:
After completing this course, students will be able to:

Gain an understanding and appreciation of Systems Engineering from concept


through program evaluation
Be able to define systems engineering as well as the importance of systems
engineering in todays complex engineering environment
Conceptualize product or service solutions in a systems context
Understand and apply the system design process
Understand and apply several key system analysis and design evaluation
methods and processes
Apply system context, the system engineering development process, and system
engineering program evaluation via a term project
Gain experience working on the term project in a team environment simulating
(as well as can be accomplished in a classroom environment) the methods and
processes used in a work environment.

Recommended Text:
Blanchard, Benjamin S., System Engineering Management, Fourth Edition, John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., 2008

Dean W. Pichette

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4/14/2014

Grading, Attendance, and Class Participation:


Because much of your learning experience in this class results from class discussion, your
thoughtful participation is the most important way for you to benefit. Solid preparation
involves a thorough reading of the assigned materials, and preparation on the relevance
and application of the concepts. Clear and persuasive expression of ideas, critical
listening, response to others viewpoints, and creativity in thought all constitute highly
effective participation. A benefit of this class will be your interaction and participation in
class.
Because this is a discussion-oriented course, your individual contributions to class
discussion are valued and rewarded. This assessment is based on the quality of your
individual input and your serious intention to contribute to class discussion. If you attend
class on an infrequent basis or rarely contribute to class discussion, it is difficult to justify
any class participation credit.
Final grades will be based on the following elements: individual homework assignments
(40%), team homework assignments (20%), a term project (30%), and a term project
presentation (10%).
Homework:
Cheating: Students who copy someone elses assignments will be given a FAILING
GRADE for the COURSE.
Submission: Assignments are due the week they are assigned.
Teamwork: Individuals who do not carry their fair share of their teams work undermine
the whole educational paradigm of this course. I would appreciate an early warning as to
any problems so that I can arrange to speak with the non-contributing student and address
the problem early on.
Teams: For this course, teams will be comprised of individuals enrolled in the course
who choose to work together. For team homework, please identify the team leader for
each assignment. It is recommended that this responsibility be rotated through the team
to give everyone the opportunity to share this responsibility.
Late Assignments: Students are expected to turn in all of the assignments on time.
However, students are allowed a grace period until the class date of the following week
with no penalty to allow for workload fluctuations. There will be a 1-grade deduction
for any assignment more than a week late without prior approval due to special
circumstances.

Dean W. Pichette

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Course Outline:
Date
Sep 9

Sep 16

Sep 23

Topic

Reading

Course Overview
Selection of Teams
Systems Thinking
Systems Context
Team Identification of Term Projects

Lecture Slides
P-Diagram Material
Homework #1

System Engineering Overview


Definition of System Engineering
The Importance of System Engineering
System Engineering Process

Chapter 1

Conceptual System Design

Homework #3

Oct 7

Requirements Engineering

Chapter 2

Oct 14

Concept Selection

Homework #4
Chapter 2

System Validation

Homework #5
Chapter 2

Sep 30

Oct 21

Oct 28

Homework #2
Chapter 3, 5

Homework #6
Chapter 6
Appendix E

Life-Cycle Acquisition

Nov 4

Life-Cycle Costing

Homework #7
Appendix B

Nov 11

System Architecture

Homework #8
Chapter 1, 2

Nov 18

Risk Management

Homework #9
Chapter 6

Nov 25

Evaluation Requirements

Dec 2

Evaluation of the System Engineering


Organization

Homework #10
Chapter 5
Chapter 8
Homework #11
Chapter 8
Homework #12

Dean W. Pichette

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4/14/2014

Date
Dec 9

Topic
Program Reporting Requirements

Dec 16

Term Project Team Presentations

Reading
Chapter 6
Term Project Due

Term Project:
The purpose of the Term Project is to provide the students, in a team environment, with
an opportunity to apply the principles of System Engineering to a real-world situation.
- Select an engineering opportunity.
- Frame the engineering opportunity in a system engineering context.
- Define the system engineering process.
- Define the system engineering methodology.
- Identify individual students responsible for each of the 12 elements that will
comprise the project.
System engineering context
Conceptual system design
Requirements engineering
Concept selection
System validation
Life-cycle acquisition
Life-cycle costing
System architecture
Risk management
Evaluation requirements
Evaluation of the system engineering organization
Program reporting requirements
- Select individual roles and responsibilities for the presentation.
- Prepare and deliver a 20 minute PowerPoint presentation.
NOTE: You are not expected to deliver an engineering opportunity; rather, your
objective will be to identify an engineering opportunity, frame it in a system engineering
context, and determine how each of the elements would be addressed if the opportunity
were selected for implementation.

Dean W. Pichette

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4/14/2014

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