This course provides a framework for the interdisciplinary systems engineering program. It outlines the design process for an engineering product or service. The systems approach is used to give students an understanding of how to integrate the technical engineering disciplines required to solve complex problems. This approach is traditionally applied to highly technical engineering problems. However, students will also see how sustainable design principles can be introduced to the design process in order to accommodate environmental considerations.

Specific topics include:

• Systems engineering definitions and classifications; life-cycle engineering
• Conceptual system design: including problem definition, technical performance measures, quality function deployment (QFD), trade-off analyses, and system specification.
• Preliminary system design: subsystem design requirements, design review.
• Detailed design and development: Detailed design requirements and design engineering activities; review and feedback, and incorporation of design changes
• Design testing, evaluation and validation
• Design for sustainability: approaches that integrate sustainability principles into the design process

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

• Embedded, cohesive approach addressed by the curriculum as a whole with particular emphasis on developing:
  • an ability to communicate with the engineering team and the community at large, as well as specific cultural groups,
  • understanding of the importance of including the customer at all stages of the systems engineering design process, including specifying needs and requirements,
  • information literacy and the ability to manage information and documentation,
  • creativity and innovation,
  • an understanding of and commitment to ethical and professional responsibilities,
  • an ability to function as an individual and as a team leader and member in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams,
  • appropriate professional attitudes.

ENGINEERING APPLICATION EXPERIENCE

• Pervasive engineering application activities in systems engineering and directed at developing:
  • advanced level skills in the structured solution of complex and often ill defined problems;
  • ability to use a systems approach to complex problems, and to design and operational performance;
  • proficiency in the engineering design of systems and/or processes in accordance with specified and agreed performance criteria;
  • skills in implementing and managing engineering projects within the bounds of time, budget, performance and quality assurance requirements;
  • an ability to undertake problem solving, design and project work within a broad contextual framework accommodating social, cultural, ethical, legal, political, economic and environmental responsibilities as well as within the principles of sustainable development;

PRACTICAL AND ‘HANDS-ON’ EXPERIENCE

• Embedded experiential learning activities, appropriate to the technical domains within the designated field of practice, and directed at developing:
  • a commitment to safe and sustainable practices;
  • skills in the selection and characterisation of engineering systems, devices, components and materials;
  • skills in the selection and application of appropriate engineering resources tools and techniques, appreciation of accuracy and limitations;
  • skills in the development and application of mathematical, physical and conceptual models, understanding of applicability and shortcomings;

Problem sets (25%); Quiz (25%); Individual design exercise (25%); Group Design Project (25%).

ENGN1211

Blanchard, Benjamin S. & Fabrycky, Wolter J. Systems Engineering and Analysis (4th Edition), Prentice Hall International, 2006.

Course page http://eng.anu.edu.au/study/currentstudents/courses