The design, development, and implementation of complex systems are all part of systems engineering, a field that is in itself complex and multifaced.
In order to keep up with the pace of today’s engineering projects, many systems engineers are adopting agile methods and software.
Engineers may swiftly respond to changes and make decisions based on real-time input with the help of agile techniques, which provide a flexible and iterative framework for dealing with the difficulties of systems engineering.
We will cover how Scrum, Kanban, and Lean, among prominent agile systems engineering software solutions, may be utilized to improve the design and development of complex systems in this post.
Agile Systems Engineering Software Solutions
Valispace
Benefit: A cloud-based software solution for centralized and collaborative management of engineering data.
Valispace also connects requirements and components to technical and engineering data, allowing you to do proper parametric design and gain better engineering insights.
Limitation: May not have all the features and capabilities of more established CAD software.
SolidWorks
Benefit: Widely used and well-established software, providing a large user community and resources.
Limitation: Can be complex and difficult to learn, with a steep learning curve.
PTC Creo
Benefit: Offers a comprehensive suite of tools for product design and engineering.
Limitation: Can be expensive and may require significant investment in training and hardware.
Autodesk Inventor
Benefit: Easy to learn and use, with a user-friendly interface.
Limitation: Limited to mechanical engineering design and may not be suitable for other types of engineering.
Dassault Systemes CATIA
Benefit: Comprehensive suite of software solutions for product design and engineering.
Limitation: Can be expensive and may require significant investment in training and hardware.
Siemens NX
Benefits: Offers a complete product design and engineering solution.
Limitation: Can be complex and difficult to learn, with a steep learning curve.
Onshape
Benefit: Cloud-based CAD software with collaboration and version control built-in.
Limitation: Limited to CAD design and may not be suitable for other types of engineering.
Fusion 360
Benefit: Cloud-based CAD software for product design, engineering, and manufacturing.
Limitation: May not have all the features and capabilities of more established CAD software.
Agile Systems Engineering Methods and Techniques
- Scrum – a framework for managing and completing complex projects.
- Kanban – a visual system for managing and prioritizing work.
- Lean – a methodology for reducing waste and increasing efficiency.
- Six Sigma – a data-driven approach for improving quality and reducing defects.
- Agile Estimation and Planning (JIRA Agile, VersionOne, etc.) – tools for estimating and planning work.
- Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) – tools for automating the build, test, and deployment process.
- Test-Driven Development (TDD) – a software development approach where tests are written before code.
- Pair Programming – a software development technique where two developers work together on the same code.
Valispace for Agile Hardware Development
Valispace is a cloud-based solution for supporting Agile hardware development.
It enables teams to save and share designs, requirements, and system models and link them in real time. This can assist in ensuring that everyone is on the same page and aid in the early detection of faults and discrepancies.
For most hardware engineering projects that want to go agile, the most helpful unique feature relates to the ability to connect requirements to engineering data.
This feature allows teams to ensure that all requirements are linked to engineering values and that any numerical data can be read and analyzed as such, rather than as flat text data.
This means that if any changes are made to your system, Valispace can automatically calculate whether this violates any of your project requirements.
Less work for your engineers, smarter insights for your project managers, and happier customers that love your product.
If you’re interested in adopting Valispace for your Agile hardware development project, schedule a call with the Valispace team to discuss your unique requirements and explore how Valispace can fit into your bespoke project.