Metrics and Case Studies for Evaluating Engineering Designs (Prentice-hall International Series in Industrial & Systems Engineering)

Shows how to apply metrics to complex design projects, evaluate the results, and then make changes that significantly improve the systems being developed. The text offers practical guidance for every step of the system design process.

Measure it to control it. Control it to improve it.
When author Terry Bahill lectures on the topic of Systems Engineering, listeners always come up to the podium to suggest a different title. “You've just described Project Management,” they say. Or Quality Engineering, or Design Engineering, or any number of different fields.
The fact is, many different types of professionals do Systems Engineering, and all good engineers do. By studying projects as different—and as ambitious—--as the first Apollo moon landing, the Great Pyramid at Giza, and the development of Velcro(r), this book uncovers the essential principles of Systems Engineering, and how to apply them to any undertaking. Measurement is the key. Metrics and Case Studies for Evaluating Engineering Designs considers four principal metrics for system design:


*Design Difficulty—Some projects do not immediately reveal their complexity. Taking some time to assess the true intricacy of each situation at the outset allows you to plan appropriately from the beginning.

*Required Resources—An accurate understanding of the materials and personnel needed to fulfill your goals is another keystone of good planning.

*Systems Engineering Efficacy—As projects get more sophisticated, the impact of systems structure becomes more and more important for success.

*Developmental Environment—Both technology and organizational politics affect the progress of any project. Knowing your environment allows you to identify risks before they endanger your project.

Metrics and Case Studies for Evaluating Engineering Designs applies these metrics to 30 real-life case studies. Drawn from the authors' experience in industry and teaching, each case illustrates one or more of the essentials in action. Moving from simple to complex systems, the book shows how readers can apply these theories to develop individual metrics tailored to their own organizations.
This common-sense approach does not require readers to understand complicated mathematics or statistical models. The authors' straightforward style makes this book ideal reading for executives in business and government who need to evaluate complex programs without having a heavy technical background. Students in all engineering disciplines can also benefit from this practical, inventive guide.