Opinion

How systems engineering drives better solutions and why you need it

14 January 2025

To enable sustainable growth, organisations must find ways to design, develop, implement, sustain and retire the right product or service within budget and schedule constraints. In this article, Andrew Patterson, Head of Concept Engineering, sheds light on Systems Engineering, and how this vital cross-sector consultancy service by the NCC is helping organisations find the right solutions to deliver optimisation benefits and enable their next innovation.

When a customer recently approached us to design a subsystem for their product, they came with detailed requirements and a clear vision. As they shared their product level requirements, it became clear to us that understanding the system in more detail was key. In partnership with the customer, we took a collective step back to look at the system level challenges and how balancing complexity between the system and product would lead to a more efficient, elegant overall system solution.

If you haven’t heard of the term, INCOSE (the International Council on Systems Engineering) defines Systems Engineering as “a transdisciplinary and integrative approach to enable the successful realisation, use, and retirement of engineered systems, using systems principles and concepts, and scientific, technological, and management methods”. Put in laymen’s terms, systems engineering is a way to manage complexity to produce the most efficient, economic and robust solution.

On the other hand, some research defines Systems Thinking as “a set of synergistic analytic skills used to improve the capability of identifying and understanding systems, predicting their behaviours, and devising modifications to them in order to produce desired effects.” In other words, the concept of Systems Thinking is broader, and can be applied to almost anything, whereas Systems Engineering is about developing products or services using the Systems Thinking approach.  The skills work together.

As my colleague Dr Richard Murray puts it, "We've never been more interconnected or lived in a more complex world. Without Systems Thinking and Systems Engineering, you can’t expect to solve the right problems with the right long-lasting solutions." This observation cuts to the heart of why Systems Engineering has become so crucial in recent years – and why we set up our own Systems Engineering team at the National Composites Centre (NCC).

Taking in the bigger picture

Given the complexity of the modern world, it’s clear that tackling many of today's big, thorny challenges will need a fundamental shift in how we approach problem-solving. While Systems Engineering isn't new (the concept has been around since at least the 1940s) – especially in aerospace and defence – its application across sectors and, indeed, whole industries has the potential to achieve a new level of positive impact.

And by taking a Systems Thinking approach to engineering projects, it means we’re not just designing components in isolation, but contributing to optimising the entire system beyond the part we’re directly involved in. In other words, you can apply Systems Thinking and Systems Engineering to a wide range of challenges beyond traditional engineering problems.

What is the real ask?

The real power of Systems Engineering lies in its flexibility. Whether we're working with organisations with mature Systems Engineering processes or those exploring this approach for the first time, our focus is the same: understanding the big picture to achieve better outcomes.

We saw this in action back in 2019 with our Sit-Ski demonstrator project, where we collaborated across four other High-Value Manufacturing Catapult centres, and with Team GB and Paralympic athletes, to develop a demonstrator device designed for skiers with lower extremity limitations. The challenge went far beyond engineering as we had to also consider things like user-safety and liability insurance during testing. The project's success, recognised with The Engineer’s "Collaborate to Innovate Award for Manufacturing Technology", showed how Systems Thinking can bring together diverse expertise to create a more effective solution. Since then, this lens has informed a number of optimisation projects, including the gold-winning seat for paralympic canoe champion, Emma Wiggs MBE at Paris 2024.  

The future is model-based

I’m especially excited about the potential of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). This approach moves beyond traditional documentation to create dynamic, traceable systems models that evolve with your project. So, when requirements change – as they inevitably do – you can quickly understand the implications across your entire system and respond as you need to.

We can illustrate Systems Engineering at the NCC using the following graphic. In terms of our product development process, there is a series of checks and balances. At every stage, evidence is shared with the customer to enable critical decision making to ensure we’re on track with the real ask. These stages include requirements capture, concept generation, concept development, implementation and assurance; manufacturing readiness; and finally, retirement.

Systems Engineering offers a dynamic transdisciplinary approach that will be crucial for solving what are known as "wicked problems". These are super-complex, large-scale challenges – think climate change and sustainable manufacturing – that defy simple or perfect solutions.

The human element

While processes and tools are important, successful Systems Engineering is, ultimately, about people. Specifically, it's about effective communication, collaboration, and breaking down barriers between multiple disciplines and multiple organisations. The NCC's position at the crossroads of industry, academia, and Government puts us in a unique position to facilitate these connections.

We've seen this in action through our own Community of Practice, with representatives from across the broad range of engineering and technology functions within the NCC. To me, this is proof of the increasing appetite for Systems Thinking and its practical applications – both inside our organisation and out in the wider world.

Looking forward

As we face ever-more complex challenges – from achieving net-zero targets to transforming manufacturing processes – the value of Systems Thinking will only grow. Why? Because we need solutions that don't just solve today's problems, but also anticipate tomorrow's challenges – some of which could be many decades in the future.

At the NCC, we're committed to making Systems Thinking and Systems Engineering a key part of our approach. Whether it's through direct collaboration, capability development, or thought leadership, we're here to help companies large and small navigate complexity to achieve more impactful solutions.

The world's challenges are too complex for any one organisation to tackle alone. But if we break down silos, think systemically, and work collaboratively, it’s possible to create solutions that make a tangible and lasting difference – not just for today, but for future generations.

To find out more about how Systems Engineering can enhance your projects, click on the button below or email our experts at [email protected]

 

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