Heuristic Structuring and Methods Selection in the SEP: An Expert System in M.4
Mark H. Clayson · INCOSE International Symposium · 1996
Abstract Systems engineering problems, and their analysis and design methods, become increasingly structured during the systems engineering process. The analysis and control function plays a structuring role in the concept phase and at the start of every loop (e.g., requirements, design, validation) in the systems engineering process. Part of analysis and control can be decomposed into a structuring loop which selects or matches methods to be applied. Heuristics are a powerful unstructured method for leveraged structuring in the critical concept phase, and later. The criteria for matching of heuristics and more structured methods to problems is logically described in decision tables. These in turn may be implemented in a knowledge base or expert system. One such operational prototype has been developed in the M.4 rule‐based environment, and is described here. The benefits of such aids may be significant for the systems engineering management and systems architects heavily involved in the analysis and control function. The same approach may be followed using existing taxonomies for specific tool selection.