IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/syseng/v21y2018i3p172-190.html

Model‐based systems engineering: Motivation, current status, and research opportunities

Author

Listed:
  • Azad M. Madni
  • Michael Sievers

Abstract

As systems continue to grow in scale and complexity, the Systems Engineering community has turned to Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to manage complexity, maintain consistency, and assure traceability during system development. It is different from “engineering with models,” which has been a common practice in the engineering profession for decades. MBSE is a holistic, systems engineering approach centered on the evolving system model, which serves as the “sole source of truth” about the system. It comprises system specification, design, validation, and configuration management. Even though MBSE is beginning to see a fair amount of use in multiple industries, specific advances are needed on multiple fronts to realize its full benefits. This paper discusses the motivation for MBSE, and its current state of maturity. It presents systems modeling methodologies and the role of ontologies and metamodels in MBSE. It presents model‐based verification and validation (V&V) as an example of MBSE use. An illustrative example of the use of MBSE for design synthesis is presented to demonstrate an important MBSE capability. The paper concludes with a discussion of challenges to widescale adoption and offers promising research directions to fully realize the potential benefits of MBSE.

Suggested Citation

  • Azad M. Madni & Michael Sievers, 2018. "Model‐based systems engineering: Motivation, current status, and research opportunities," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(3), pages 172-190, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:syseng:v:21:y:2018:i:3:p:172-190
    DOI: 10.1002/sys.21438
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sys.21438
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sys.21438?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Azad M. Madni*, 2015. "Expanding Stakeholder Participation in Upfront System Engineering through Storytelling in Virtual Worlds," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(1), pages 16-27, January.
    2. John H. Miller, 1998. "Active Nonlinear Tests (ANTs) of Complex Simulation Models," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(6), pages 820-830, June.
    3. Eppinger, Steven D. & Browning, Tyson R., 2012. "Design Structure Matrix Methods and Applications," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262017520, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hicham El Hadraoui & Mourad Zegrari & Fatima-Ezzahra Hammouch & Nasr Guennouni & Oussama Laayati & Ahmed Chebak, 2022. "Design of a Customizable Test Bench of an Electric Vehicle Powertrain for Learning Purposes Using Model-Based System Engineering," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Kathleen Giles & Kristin Giammarco, 2019. "A mission‐based architecture for swarm unmanned systems," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(3), pages 271-281, May.
    3. Fumiya Akasaka & Yuya Mitake & Kentaro Watanabe & Yuri Nishikawa & Jun Ozawa & Yoshiki Shimomura, 2024. "Designing a Digital Service System for Sustainable Social Value Creation: A Holistic Design Method Based on Socio-Cyber-Physical System Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-27, November.
    4. Gonzalo Sánchez-Barroso & Jaime González-Domínguez & Justo García-Sanz-Calcedo & Francisco Zamora-Polo, 2020. "Analysis of Learning Motivation in Industrial Engineering Teaching in University of Extremadura (Spain)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-11, June.
    5. Gao, Ye & Feng, Lei & Liu, Ding & Li, Zhiwu, 2025. "Multi-objective co-optimization of powertrain sizing, energy management, and eco-driving for the architectural design of electric vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 398(C).
    6. Guangying Jin, 2022. "Designer Selection for Complex Engineering System Design Projects Considering the Disciplines Demanded," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-25, December.
    7. L. Dale Thomas & Elizabeth Patterson, 2020. "Systems Modeling Language viewpoint utilization to facilitate shared mental models among system stakeholders," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1), pages 128-140, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Uwe Beyer & Oliver Ullrich, 2022. "Organizational Complexity as a Contributing Factor to Underperformance," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Morgan Dwyer & Bruce Cameron & Zoe Szajnfarber, 2015. "A Framework for Studying Cost Growth on Complex Acquisition Programs," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(6), pages 568-583, November.
    3. Mohammad Hossein Azin & Hessam Zandhessami, 2025. "Strategic Alignment Patterns in National AI Policies," Papers 2507.05400, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2025.
    4. Pedota, Mattia & Cicala, Francesco & Basti, Alessio, 2025. "Human agents, generative AI, and innovation: A formal model of hybrid creative process," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    5. Robert Schmidt & Kasper Sanchez Vibaek & Simon Austin, 2014. "Evaluating the adaptability of an industrialized building using dependency structure matrices," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(1-2), pages 160-182, February.
    6. Jan H. Kwakkel & Erik Pruyt, 2015. "Using System Dynamics for Grand Challenges: The ESDMA Approach," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(3), pages 358-375, May.
    7. Kaushik Sinha & Seok‐Youn Han & Eun Suk Suh, 2020. "Design structure matrix‐based modularization approach for complex systems with multiple design constraints," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(2), pages 211-220, March.
    8. Juntao Zhang & Cecilia Haskins & Yiliu Liu & Mary Ann Lundteigen, 2018. "A systems engineering–based approach for framing reliability, availability, and maintainability: A case study for subsea design," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(6), pages 576-592, November.
    9. Nazarizadeh, Farzaneh & Alemtabriz, Akbar & Zandieh, Mostafa & Raad, Abbas, 2022. "An analytical model for reliability assessment of the rail system considering dependent failures (case study of Iranian railway)," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    10. Khraisha, Tamer, 2020. "Complex economic problems and fitness landscapes: Assessment and methodological perspectives," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 390-407.
    11. Andreas Poller, 2020. "Exploring and managing the complexity of large infrastructure projects with network theory and model‐based systems engineering—The example of radioactive waste disposal," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(4), pages 443-459, July.
    12. Lin, Jun & Qian, Yanjun & Cui, Wentian & Goh, Thong Ngee, 2015. "An effective approach for scheduling coupled activities in development projects," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 243(1), pages 97-108.
    13. Benjamin L. Turner & Hector M. Menendez & Roger Gates & Luis O. Tedeschi & Alberto S. Atzori, 2016. "System Dynamics Modeling for Agricultural and Natural Resource Management Issues: Review of Some Past Cases and Forecasting Future Roles," Resources, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-24, November.
    14. Christopher M. Schlick & Soenke Duckwitz & Sebastian Schneider, 2013. "Project dynamics and emergent complexity," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 480-515, December.
    15. Young‐Don Shin & Sang‐Hyun Sim & Jae‐Chon Lee, 2017. "Model‐Based Integration of Test and Evaluation Process and System Safety Process for Development of Safety‐Critical Weapon Systems," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(3), pages 257-279, May.
    16. Alison L. Olechowski & Steven D. Eppinger & Nitin Joglekar & Katharina Tomaschek, 2020. "Technology readiness levels: Shortcomings and improvement opportunities," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(4), pages 395-408, July.
    17. Nicolay Worren & Tore Christiansen & Kim Verner Soldal, 2020. "Using an algorithmic approach for grouping roles and sub-units," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 9(1), pages 1-19, December.
    18. David Engel & Thomas W Malone, 2018. "Integrated information as a metric for group interaction," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, October.
    19. Edwin C. Y. Koh, 2017. "A study on the Requirements to Support the Accurate Prediction of Engineering Change Propagation," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 147-157, March.
    20. Komeil Mahjori Karmozdi & Mohammad Reza Kohansal & Mohammad Ghorbani, 2020. "Sustainable economic rural development system pattern in Ghaemshahr: an application of the developed TOP-MARD core model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 5793-5817, August.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:syseng:v:21:y:2018:i:3:p:172-190. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1002/(ISSN)1520-6858 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.