Systems engineering and concurrent engineering: what's in it for manufacturers of mature industrial products?

Abstract

Studies on both systems engineering and concurrent engineering tend to be set in the context of high-technology industries: typically weapon systems and aerospace for the former and the automobile industry for the latter. In South Africa, for historical reasons, a large segment of manufacturing industry comprises mature, relatively low-technology heavy mechanical and electrical engineering companies manufacturing industrial products. This paper examines the common ground between systems engineering, concurrent engineering, and the challenges of managing and rejuvenating mature businesses. A combined product development process, tailored to meet the needs of manufacturers of mature industrial products, is presented.

Studies in beide stelselingenieurswese en gelyktydige ingenieurswese is normaalweg onderneem in hoe-tegnologie nywerhede: tipies wapenstelsel- en ruimtevaart nywerhede in die eersgenoemde en die motomywerheid in die laasgenoemde geval. Weens historiese redes kan 'n groot komponent van die Suid-Afrikaanse vervaardigingsnywerheid beskryf word as volwasse swaar meganiese en elektriese bedrywe van relatief lae-tegnologiese aard. In hierdie studie word die gemeenskaplike grond tussen stelselingenieurswese, gelyktydige ingenieurswese en die uitdagings verbonde aan die hemuwing van volwasse ondememings ondersoek. 'n Proses vir die ontwikkeling van produkte, saamgestel uit die twee ingenieursbenaderings en aangepas om te voldoen aan die behoeftes van volwasse nywerhede, word voorgestel.