Upcoming Membership Meeting: Innovation in Systems Engineering

Meeting Information

Speaker: Amanda Foo
Date: June 9, 2014

Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Location: Room 109, Carnegie Mellon University, Silicon Valley Campus (CMU), Moffett Field, CA
Summary
A look at two distinct areas: virtual reality and modular designs which both promote change in the System Engineering paradigm. Google Glass and other 3D enhancements help us harness the benefits of Model Based Engineering and simplify complex system designs while potentially aiding us with product assurance and quality issues. When looking at impacts on System Architecture, modular phone designs like ARA project start to scratch the surface of the possibilities of predisposed systems planned for innovation and interchangeability.

Speaker Bio
Amanda Foo received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley in 2004 then began working at Lockheed Martin. Through the years, she has been a lead on Developmental Soft Tooling consoles, Principal Engineer on batteries and electronic packages, and Test Lead on Centrifuge tests.

Currently, she is the Solid Boost Motor Propulsion Manager for Fleet Ballistic Missiles Program. Over the past two years, she has pursued certifications as an Agile Scrum Master and Agile Product Owner. Additionally, she has involved herself in startup technologies including Google Glass Explorer Program and 3D Printing motor mockups.

 Ms. Foo is the current Program Director (2014) and Board Member of INCOSE San Francisco Bay Area Chapter.

Upcoming Membership Meeting: The Role of Systems Engineering in Agile Software Implementation Teams

Meeting Information 
Speaker: Phyllis R. Marbach 
Date: July 14, 2014

Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Location: TBD 



Summary

Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary approach and means to enable the realization of successful systems” as defined in the INCOSE Systems Engineering handbook. When software development teams apply agile software methodologies such as scrum, test driven development and continuous integration (collectively referred to as “Agile software development” hereafter); there are challenges in coordination with traditional systems engineering efforts. This paper, developed by the INCOSE Agile Systems Engineering Working Group, proposes methods for cross-functional teams that include Systems and Software Engineers working on customer “pull” projects to produce software products. This paper defines a proposed Agile SE Framework that aligns with agile software development methodology, and describes the role of the Systems Engineer in this context. It presents an iterative approach to the aspects of development (requirements, design, etc.) that are relevant to systems engineering practice. This approach delivers frequent releasable products that result in the ability to absorb changes in mission requirements through collaboration between systems engineers and software engineers. The Agile SE Framework defines a way to scale agile from individual agile software teams with a few members to large projects that require a planned architecture and coordinated efforts.

Speaker Bio

Phyllis R. Marbach is a senior software engineer for Boeing Defense Space and Security (BDS).  Phyllis has over 30 years of experience in aerospace programs such as Satellites, chemical lasers, the International Space Station, and various propulsion systems. Currently she is a member of Lean-Agile Support Services (LASS), an active Agile Coach for the Boeing Enterprise, a Certified ScrumMaster and a Certified Product Owner.  She has coached Unmanned Air Systems, Radio, avionics, and research programs.  phyllis.r.marbach@boeing.com Ms. Marbach has an MS degree in Engineering from UCLA.

Upcoming Membership Meeting: The Art of Integration

Meeting Information

Speaker: Chin-An Cheng

Date: May 12, 2014

Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Location: Room 109/110 (Room location has been updated), Carnegie Mellon University, Silicon Valley Campus (CMU), Moffett Field, CA

Summary

Integration is important to systems engineering because most systems fail at the interface that is an integral part of integration.  Integration is intuitive to human and other social animals and yet, most systems engineers do not think much about it.  Integration can be very complex and complicated, it takes many shapes and flavors and yet the essential elements of the integration are the same – relationships between system elements and rules that govern those relationships.  The art of integration is to define and manage the relationships and form a strong bond between various subsystems.  At the end of the presentation, an example of successful system integration will be discussed to illustrate the art of integration.

Speaker Bio

Chin-An Cheng was born in Shanghai, raised in Taiwan, and educated in the United States. He has 38 years experience in both aerospace and commercial companies including Northrop Aircraft Company, Garrett Airesearch Corporation, Western Union, Hughes Aircraft Company, C.A. Devices, Space Vector Corporation, AXA Corporation, and Western Medical Equipment. He recently retired from the position of Staff Control Engineer at Lockheed Martin. 

Mr Cheng has worked on a large variety of systems including: F-5 fighter jets, Boeing 747s, various turbo-machines, TDRSS Satellites, laser weapons and designators, night vision technology, tanks, space sensors, missiles, communication satellites, computer animation and medical equipment. 

Mr. Cheng received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and an MSME and EME from the University of Southern California.

Upcoming Membership Meeting: The Integrity of the Supply Chain in an Age of Globalization - Counterfeit Parts, A Systems Engineer's Nightmare!

Meeting Information

Speaker: George J. Vlay

Date: April 14, 2014

Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Silicon Valley Campus (CMU), Moffett Field, CA

Summary

Counterfeit electrical, electronic and mechanical parts are flooding the marketplace.  More than a million counterfeit parts were found in military equipment.  National Defense Authorization Act-2011 requires contractors to certify all components meet all regulations.  Failures in a DOD program will require the prime contractor to replace and repair at their own expense.  Anticipated consequences of DOD, European Union and Russia include cracking down on counterfeit parts. 

All of the counterfeit parts will now find their way into civilian markets.  Automobile recalls, Lithium-Ion parts and the San Francisco Bay Bridge bolts will be reviewed.  Counterfeit software is allowing hackers to embed back doors for future access into personal, business and protected data. 

Best practices will be outlined with consequences for System Engineers.  A proof will be presented to understand the reliability of every part and material in a product.

Speaker Bio

Mr. George J. Vlay received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Buffalo (UB) in 1953, and further pursued his education at UB with graduate work in electronics and mathematics.  From 1956 to 1966 he held positions as Project Engineer with Aero Commander, Inc. in Norman, Oklahoma and with Sylvania Electronic Systems in Williamsville, New York.

George then joined Philco-Ford (renamed Ford Aerospace) in 1966 in Palo Alto, California, holding a number of increasing responsible positions:

• Joining the company as Manager of Communications Systems Activity, he was responsible for advanced communication satellite designs, large scale communication systems and ground terminal systems
•  As Director of Business Development & Planning, George was responsible for the Western Development Divisions 5/10 year Business Plan and Marketing Plans.
•  As Director of Technical Affairs with responsibility for the IR&D Program for plan, 5/10 year technology plans, mission analysis, proposal development, productivity and computer-aided design for engineering and manufacturing.
• As Director of Product Assurance he held responsibility for hardware and software Quality Assurance, reliability, test equipment and spacecraft and aerospace ground equipment environmental test equipment.
• His last assignment with Ford Aerospace was as Director of Systems Management, to review and improve the division’s processes to maintain the high reliability of the Divisions products.

Mr. Vlay then established Systems Management Associates, a consulting company to Space Systems Loral and electronics companies throughout Silicon Valley.  Although many contracts required confidentiality agreements, one program stands out:  The US Air Force embarked on a program to streamline the RFP process.  A team of 20 Air Force Officers and civilians were empowered to perform this task.  They also required industry participation and Mr. Vlay was selected as the CODSIA (Council of Defense and Space Industries Association) representative for this year-long program.  A very streamlined RFP process was developed and implemented by the US Air Force.

George Vlay has been an active participant in the following organizations:

• Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
•   Distinguished Lecturer for the AIAA
• Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
• Founding Member of the International Council of Systems Engineers
• Member of Pi Mu Epsilon, a National Honorary Mathematical Fraternity