UAH Researcher Sue O'Brien presents Systems Engineering Toolkit (SET) at the 11th Annual Systems Engineering Conference

UAH Researcher Sue O'Brien presents Systems Engineering Toolkit (SET) at the 11th Annual Systems Engineering Conference. See Abstract Below.

Abstract - In February 2004, the Department of Defense (DoD) mandated the re-vitalization of systems engineering throughout the services. As part of this effort, all acquisition category (ACAT) level programs are required to create system engineering plans (SEP). To ensure the SEPs addressed all applicable systems engineering practices throughout the lifecycle of the program, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) created a SEP Preparation Guidebook.

SEP creation and review was causing an extra burden on the program offices. The University of Alabama in Huntsville's (UAH) Rotorcraft Systems Engineering and Simulation Center (RSESC) has been integral to meeting this growing mandate from OSD. Working under contract with PEO-Aviation and PEO-Missiles and Space to support systems engineering efforts to the Program Offices, UAH RSESC became involved in the Army Systems Engineering Forums and reviewing SEPs. To assist in minimizing the burden of creating the SEPs, as well as to improve the effectiveness of the SEP planning process, UAH RSESC developed a systems engineering tool. The SEP portion of the toolkit is comprised of knowledge from documents, presentations and tables provided by OSD and experience at UAH. As the OSD guidance has been updated, inquiries within the tool have also been updated to ensure compliance with the latest standard and the most relevant and effective aspects of systems engineering.

The Systems Engineering Toolkit (SET) is tailorable to the type of program and the phase the program is entering in the lifecycle process. The tool has been applied to creating new SEPs and updating existing SEPs. Preliminary results have been favorable. In addition, the tool aids in highlighting specific recommendations to the programs on how to better address OSD guidance. The tool is web-based to further improve the planning process not only for the creation of SEPs but also for systems engineering in totality.