5.6.2 A Lean Approach to Improving SE Visibility in Large Operational Systems Evolution

It is often difficult to understand the status of capability development in large operational systems. Schedules are rarely stable. This is due to factors such as: the size and complexity of capabilities; unexpected changes in priorities; depth of supplier chains; variety and availability of special engineering resources; contract structure; and the inherently complex nature of such operations. Lean approaches use the concepts of work in progress (WIP) and capacity to maximize flow through a process. Under certain circumstances, these concepts can be applied to systems engineering and development processes. This paper describes an example implementation of the concept in a large health care system of systems. To enhance both visibility and flow, the approach utilizes visualization techniques, pull‐scheduling processes, and a services approach to systems engineering.