Dassault Systèmes Bridges Skill Gap Of UK Aviation Industry

Dassault Systèmes and Cranfield University have launched their first-ever Applied Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) continuous professional development (CPD) course, with the shared goal of addressing key skill shortages in the UK aviation industry. 

The new program will equip system engineers with critical MBSE skillsets and mindsets, addressing the need for enhanced product development methodologies in the industry.

The result of collaboration with multiple industry partners, the applied MBSE course ensures attendees are ready to tackle the complex challenges of modern engineering. 

It engagingly bridges the gap between theory and practice, bringing learners up to speed with the realities and future of the aviation sector today.

Dassault Systèmes, the software company with a strong presence in the aviation and aerospace markets, has brought its plethora of digital simulation solutions to the course. 

Learners will become proficient in the company's solutions including CATIA applications and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform that allows OEMs and suppliers to create virtual twins to safely and effectively handle design, simulation and predicting supply bottlenecks. 

The development of this course marks a major milestone for Dassault Systèmes and Cranfield University’s partnership, after they announced their shared Centre of Excellence to drive aerospace innovation at the Paris Air Show in 2023.

What is MBSE?

Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) is a multidisciplinary approach or methodology to engineering that involves four key systems-engineering domains: 

• Requirements/capabilities
• Behaviour
• Architecture/structure
• Verification and validation

This methodology is used to approach complex products that require the exchange of requirements, feedback and information through analytical and descriptive modelling rather than static documents.

Digital models are used in MBSE, from the conceptual design phase throughout the product life cycle.

A process which covers the end-to-end traceability, task management, reporting capabilities and collaboration necessary to complete high-stakes aerospace missions. 

MBSE combines a traditional domain model and system architecture model to ensure an engineered system or product meets all the four systems listed above. 

This approach to engineering is crucial for the future of UK aviation, as products and supply chains grow increasingly more complex and interconnected.

Why MBSE is important for aerospace engineering

Aerospace engineers are often tasked with developing mission-critical systems under strict budgets and time constraints.

Within mission- and performance-critical, highly regulated industries such as aerospace, MBSE is essential to ensure the software code and subsystems are performing and achieving program, budgetary and schedule goals.  

MBSE enables engineering organisations to manage the increasing complexity of the products they design and build.

While traditional design practices can lead to cost overruns and missed deadlines, MBSE helps organisations get quality products to market on time and under budget.

By understanding how every design choice impacts the system across its life cycle, model-based systems engineering is able to:

• Speed up time to market: Ensures the system design meets requirements, allows for further optimisation and delivers the most advanced capabilities most efficiently.
• Reduce risk: Detects and corrects defects early in the design process to protect against cost and schedule overruns and understand real-world performance.
• Manage complexity: Enables engineers to share the details of their vision with all the technical stakeholders and ensure that all requirements are being met.
• Improve collaboration: Facilitates communication of a shared vision across all stakeholders to reduce cost and risk and increase design and operational efficiency.
• Ensure safety: Makes sure the software code and subsystems are doing what they are supposed to. MBSE fully integrates standards into core processes.

MBSE can help with a variety of tasks, including: 

• Ensuring goals are met: MBSE helps ensure that software and subsystems meet program, budgetary and schedule goals. 
• Improving decision making: MBSE can help teams make better decisions by providing a visual representation of complex systems. 
• Reducing delays and cost overruns: MBSE can help avoid project delays and cost overruns by improving delivery, product yield and bottom line. 
• Managing requirements: MBSE helps manage requirements by defining them in the model itself. 
• Reducing labour: Changes made within a model propagate automatically, reducing labour. 

“Civil aviation professionals including skilled engineers are high in demand due to rapidly growing industry needs," says Marc Overton, MD, Euronorth, Dassault Systèmes.

"The Applied Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) course is designed in collaboration with leading industry partners to help bridge the widening skills gap in the UK's aviation industry, ensuring attendees are prepared to tackle complex challenges in modern engineering."

Dassault Systèmes & Cranfield University: Bridging the skills gap