Understanding Systems Engineering and MBSE

Ever feel like the internet is simply robots talking to robots? You search for something specific—perhaps a health issue—and by the time you reach page three, every answer starts to feel like a slightly rephrased copy of the last. And it’s not just healthcare; try searching for technology-related terms like Systems Engineering or Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). You’ll come across plenty of definitions, but most sound strikingly similar, as though churned out by the same algorithm. Let’s break this down in a more practical way.

What Is Systems Engineering and what is MBSE?

For a proof of the pudding, I have asked the AI-power Bing Co-Pilot – and this is what I got for Systems Engineering:
“Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering and management that focuses on designing, integrating, and managing complex systems over their life cycles. It ensures that all system components work together to achieve the desired outcome through five key aspects: Requirements Analysis, System Design, System Integration, Validation, and Verification.”

Straightforward enough, isn’t it? Systems Engineering is essentially about ensuring that every part of a complex system—from hardware to software driven function—works seamlessly together, regardless of the application. Think of spacecraft, vehicles, or medical devices; all rely on Systems Engineering to function as intended. Building on that, let’s look at MBSE. This is what I get from Co-Pilot:
“Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is an advanced approach to systems engineering that uses digital modelling to design, analyze, verify, and validate complex systems. MBSE replaces traditional document-based methods with interconnected models that cover requirements, design, and analysis.”

So, Systems Engineering is document-based, while Model Based Systems Engineering uses interconnected models. But what is a model? And how does it differ from a document?

From Static Document to Interconnected Model

The key difference between a document and a model lies in their nature and functionality in representing and managing information. A document is a static artifact, such as a specification or report, that describes system information in a text-based or graphical format. Documents are standalone, disconnected representations, requiring manual updates and synchronization to ensure consistency across related artifacts. They are primarily descriptive and limited in their ability to handle complexity or change efficiently.

In contrast, a model is a dynamic, interconnected representation of a system, built on structured data that integrates elements like requirements, designs, and behaviors. Models allow for multiple views and levels of detail, enabling users to explore different perspectives while maintaining a single source of truth. Changes in a model are automatically propagated across all related elements, ensuring consistency and reducing errors.

While documents are basically static records and communication tools, models are interactive and executable, supporting advanced capabilities like simulation, validation, and impact analysis. This adaptability makes models more effective in managing complex systems, fostering collaboration, and improving traceability. By shifting from documents to models, systems engineering enhances efficiency and reduces the risks associated with manual processes.

Why is MBSE not yet on Every Engineer’s Desktop?

On paper, replacing static documents by dynamic, interconnected models sounds revolutionary, almost as if MBSE alone could design a spaceship or a state-of-the-art electric vehicle. But if it’s that transformative, why isn’t every engineer already using it?

Here’s the issue: Engineering rarely involves dramatic innovative leaps. It’s a step-by-step process, refining what’s already proven and building on technological and process know-how that has been built up over decades and generations of engineers. This is what many companies refer to as their Product Development Process, commonly abbreviated as PDP – their established method of building new products. 

The PDP is not represented in one single system – it is rather comprised of a network of interacting systems, such as requirements management, process management, supply chain and enterprise resource management, product or engineering data management, to name just a few of them. A subset of these elements comprises what these companies commonly refer to as their Product Lifecycle Management System – again, not represented in one single software application (contrary to what some vendors might try to make you believe).

When the Product Development Process Shows Signs of Fatigue

As long your company’s established and proven PDP continues to turn out new products that are able to compete in the market in terms of price, performance and quality, why in the world would you want to introduce an additional layer on top of it in the form of an MBSE system?

You wouldn’t, probably, but the situation changes when your PDP starts to show signs of fatigue – when new products generate shrinking margins, when it takes too long to get them into production, or when they are outperformed by emerging competitors. Then – if we want to resume our initial metaphor of the health issue – our patient is seriously ill, and drastic measures will be required.

To avoid such drastic measures, it may be a good idea to apply a Systems Engineering approach to consider and evaluate potential alternatives along with the everyday routines – not only for the product itself, but also for the process aspects of the PDP, to make sure your company’s  technological and creative power gets the best possible traction.

Future-proofing the Product Development Process

MBSE isn’t just for moonshots. If applied in industries where iterative design and variant customization are standard practices—such as industrial machinery, automation, or process plant engineering—it can yield substantial benefits.

From modelling and evaluating customer requirements to identifying available and usable sub-system designs through to accelerating the proposal and bidding processes, MBSE provides all the tools to accelerate key business decisions and improve a company’s competitive positioning.

It also excels in situations involving uncertainty. If a system component or technology is still evolving, MBSE enables you to model that uncertainty while assessing its impact on the broader system.

However, MBSE isn’t an overnight fix. Unlocking its full potential requires time, commitment, and the development of expertise. Like any advanced tool, it’s the practice and integration of MBSE that lead to lasting results.

Selecting the Right MBSE Tool

The market is filled with MBSE tools, but not all are created equal. When evaluating options, focus on core capabilities: requirements management, system architecture design, integration, and validation. The right tool should align seamlessly with your organisation’s engineering processes and goals.

One standout option is GENESYS from Zuken. It’s more than just another MBSE tool; GENESYS dynamically connects all model elements, ensuring consistency throughout the system. Powered by the STRATA method and the industry standard SysML modelling language, it integrates seamlessly with detailed engineering workflows, enabling smooth transitions from high-level system models to detailed design processes in fields like electronics and electrical engineering. By bridging the gap between systems engineering and detailed design, GENESYS ensures traceability, consistency, and collaboration across disciplines, empowering teams to accelerate development cycles and reduce errors.

MBSE – a Strategy for a Future-Ready Business

While MBSE isn’t a magic wand, it’s a powerful strategy for preparing your business for the future. Whether you’re developing innovative products or optimizsing existing processes, MBSE offers a structured and efficient approach to managing complexity and uncertainty. Tools like GENESYS ensure that your systems engineering practices remain robust, capable, and ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Further reading

Zuken Website

• Model-Based Systems Engineering Software – Where Complexity meets Clarity  

White Paper

• Leverage MBSE to Solve Critical Challenges in Manufacturing  

Blogs

• Enhancing Lead-to-Order Process Efficiency – How to combine speed and accuracy in decision-making with the help of MBSE 
• Requirements Clarification Based on MBSE 
• How MBSE Helps Design Sustainable Products 
• Things to Consider before Adopting MBSE 

Webinar

• Model-based development – a way to manage complexity