The Application of Systems Engineering to a Small Manufacturer - A Case Study

Abstract

During the past decade, sweeping changes have taken place on the industrial scene ... new concepts, techniques, principles of performance and sharp new tools of implementation have come to the fore. Modern systematization of business and industry, brought about by the expanding trend towards the growing world market, the piercing competitive situation, automation and the belt tightening profit squeeze have given rise to a new breed of specialists ... the industrial systems engineer. Systems Engineering means many things to many people. To one group, it means Operation Research; to another, automatic control. To a third group it means electronic data processing. Actually, Systems Engineering is an integrated analytical study of the behavior of a system including hardware, process, people and their interactions necessary for optimum operation and control. Systems Engineering is not restricted to the complex problems of large corporations as many people believe. In fact, utilization of the rudimentary principles can be as valuable to the small firms as the application of highly sophisticated techniques is to the giant firms relatively ... speaking, of course. The purpose of this paper is to present a document of systems engineering in action in a small manufacturing concern.