Glossary · Systems engineering and MBSE
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
Also known as: MBSE
German: Modellbasiertes Systems Engineering (MBSE)
In systems engineering, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is an approach using connected models of requirements, functions, architecture, interfaces, behavior and evidence. The system model, rather than a set of documents, is the reference for the system.
- Systems engineering
- Integrated systems
In one sentence
MBSE uses connected models of requirements, functions, architecture, interfaces and behavior as the reference for an entire system.
Example
An integrator models a robot cell in MBSE: stakeholder requirements, safety functions, the cell architecture, the conveyor interface and the stop behavior are linked in one system model.
How it applies
- Integrated systems: MBSE makes interfaces and interactions explicit in one system model, which helps to find interaction hazards early.
- Traceability: Links from requirements to functions, elements and tests live in the model, which makes traceability and impact analysis queryable.
- Technical documentation: Different audiences get different views of the same model. Documentation can be derived from views instead of being written in parallel.
- Evidence: A model only counts as evidence under governance: versioned, reviewed and approved.
Using MBSE does not by itself demonstrate safety or conformity. It organizes the information that the analyses, tests and documentation still have to provide.