• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Sections A-Z
    • Agriculture
    • Aircraft
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Automation
    • Autonomous vehicles
    • Business
    • Computing
    • Construction
    • Design
    • Drones
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial robots
    • Industry
    • Infrastructure
    • Investments
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Marine
    • Material handling
    • Materials
    • Mining
    • Promoted
    • Research
    • Robotics
    • Science
    • Sensors
    • Service robots
    • Software
    • Space
    • Technology
    • Transportation
    • Warehouse robots
    • Wearables
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power
systems engineering

Systems engineering: An insight from a professional systems engineer

November 1, 2017 by David Edwards

Systems engineering and systems design might sound fascinating to someone interested in the area of technology and building, making, developing, and organising things. 

But even to understand what the terms mean, from a beginner’s or outsider’s point of view, can be difficult.

And to summarise them probably wouldn’t explain things adequately because they really sound like a big jobs, involving a large number of tasks across many different disciplines and departments.

Needless to say, a systems engineer’s job, or a systems designer’s job, is fundamental and critical to an entire project, although, all we’ve learned so far is that a system engineer’s job is different from that of a system designer.

You could perhaps think of a systems engineer as an architect, and a systems designer as the builder. But rather than us try and dumb it down for ourselves, we talked to an actual system engineer and asked him what the difference is, and what they do.

Gary Ewer, electromechanical system engineer, Cambridge Consultants

In the exclusive interview, Gary Ewer, electromechanical system engineer and group leader at Cambridge Consultants, explains some of the basic concepts of the whole area, as well as some of the advanced aspects of his own job.

R&AN: Can you describe or define systems design in a sentence or two, as it relates to your job role or the work you do? Is there a difference between systems design and systems engineering? 



Gary Ewer: The design of multiple modules in a system that, due to the size and complexity of the overall project, need to be developed by separate teams and integrated together.

This system design approach has additional benefits from the point of view of design modularity for the future (modules can be upgraded in the future without impacting other modules) and minimising the project risk.

System design considers the project requirements and how it will be broken into modules, interfaces and delivered to satisfy the requirements.

Systems engineering is about considering the complete system lifecycle – not just how it will be designed, but how it will be manufactured, tested, maintained, and upgraded.

R&AN: What are the jobs or types of work you are engaged in at the moment?

Gary Ewer: 

Personally I have worked on and lead on a number of large projects that have required state of the art systems design and engineering.

From a medical diagnostics machine to an industrial automation robot.

I am currently working on a medical drug delivery device which although physically is very small, still has five modules, all of which need to work together during integration.

The skills and approach for system engineering are similar, whatever the industry – medical, consumer, industrial and so on.

sparx ea uml2 small
Sparx Enterprise Architect screenshot

R&AN: What are you required to do? What are the applications you use to engineer, design or diagram a system? 



Gary Ewer: For system design the first challenge is aligning the project with the business objectives and capturing the essential system requirements.

At a top level, the client might say, “We’re going to sell it in the US, then Japan, then Europe”, and we then have to translate this simple mission into a product roadmap and plan that can deliver.

At an engineering level, this means identifying the relevant standards and test regimes.

Above this though, we need an approach to modularisation that supports the need for operation in different geographies and these modules need to be a benefit and not a burden to the delivery of the project.

The tools used to do this are irrelevant.

You can use Microsoft Visio or Enterprise Architect for diagrams, Microsoft Word or Doors [Dynamic Object-Oriented Requirements System] for requirements – the outcome is the same and you just need to ensure the tools are the most suitable for the job in hand.

R&AN: Do you have a template of some sort to start with? What templates or resources are useful as a starting point for you? 

Gary Ewer: We have many tools and templates at our disposal and have to choose the best ones for the project, whether it is for requirements capture, risk management, technical review, Fracas [failure reporting, analysis, and corrective action system], FMECA [failure mode, effects and criticality analysis], and so on.

Many of our tools are custom spreadsheets.

However, we also use Doors, Enterprise Architect and other industry standard packages, as long as they are appropriate for the project.

R&AN: What are the challenges for systems engineers now as things – or machines – become more complex? 



Gary Ewer: Getting all stakeholders to understand the importance of interfaces between complex modules and getting their engagement in developing and adhering to them.

On one project we simply could not convince the client of the value of interfaces between modules until about two years later when the guy operating an injection moulding machine changed and suddenly their system was not working reliably.

If they had a robust interface in place, they would have been in a much better position to say what variation was acceptable from the supplier and when they were reaching the limits of reliable system operation.

pcb pic

R&AN: What are the future challenges and what is Cambridge Consultants doing to face them? 



Gary Ewer: We are always innovating on our projects and developing our processes.

A couple of years ago, we launched our Product Development Process which captures best practice from the Cambridge Consultants centres of excellence and makes the knowledge and experience available for everyone in the company to make use of.

We are continually updating and improving this by reflecting and learning from what went well and what went not so well on projects.

It is also essential to bring skills and experience developed in one market area to another.

For example, we developed some clever motor control techniques during the development of an industrial robot which we have been able to apply to a medical drug delivery device.

The motors were at complete opposite ends of the power spectrum. However, the same basic principles still apply.

R&AN: How does internet of things and industrial internet of things affect systems engineering? 



Gary Ewer: As systems become more distributed, security becomes a bigger concern. You can no longer rely on physical security to protect systems.

It is not just about using secure protocols and strong passwords – it is about having a big-picture view and considering the entire system – who will attack it, why will they attack it and how could they attack it.

Security is one of the big reasons why remote software upgrade has become a lot more important so issues can be identified and resolved before they can be used by attackers.

It is no longer acceptable to send someone to every site with a laptop and a cable, as that will take far too long and the damage could long since have been done.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Industry, News Tagged With: cambridge consultants, design, engineering, systems design, systems engineering

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • Hesai Technology to provide lidar for planned Cratus warehouse robots
  • Associated Food Stores selects Symbotic to implement warehouse automation system
  • Figure raises $70 million Series A to support commercialization of Figure 01 humanoid robot
  • 3M highlights major global trends in materials science and charts its own way ahead
  • Apex Motion Control launches new collaborative robot
  • Siemens unveils its first virtual PLC and new automation products
  • Yaskawa takes center stage at Africa Automation Technology Fair
  • Bota Systems and Kinova partner for easy installation of force torque sensors
  • Universal Robots executive receives prestigious robotics award for contribution to robot safety
  • What are the Differences between Rapid Tooling and Conventional Tooling?

Most Read

  • Snapchat Plus Planet Order 2023 Explained
    Snapchat Plus Planet Order 2023 Explained
  • Why is Money Important in Our Lives?
    Why is Money Important in Our Lives?
  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • How to Track a Phone Number on Google Maps
    How to Track a Phone Number on Google Maps
  • Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
    Why is My Car Key Stuck in the Ignition?
  • Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
    Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
  • Deep Robotics unveils new four-legged robot
    Deep Robotics unveils new four-legged robot
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • The Future of Personal Computers: What to Expect in the Next Decade
    The Future of Personal Computers: What to Expect in the Next Decade

Overused words

ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile operations platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse work

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • Hesai Technology to provide lidar for planned Cratus warehouse robots
  • Associated Food Stores selects Symbotic to implement warehouse automation system
  • Figure raises $70 million Series A to support commercialization of Figure 01 humanoid robot
  • 3M highlights major global trends in materials science and charts its own way ahead
  • Apex Motion Control launches new collaborative robot
  • Siemens unveils its first virtual PLC and new automation products
  • Yaskawa takes center stage at Africa Automation Technology Fair
  • Bota Systems and Kinova partner for easy installation of force torque sensors
  • Universal Robots executive receives prestigious robotics award for contribution to robot safety
  • What are the Differences between Rapid Tooling and Conventional Tooling?

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

November 2017
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930  
« Oct   Dec »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT