MBSE feasibility study to improve PLM business solution system specification and design

Ambiguous requirements are the main cause of failure in PLM business solution applications development. SysML used in a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) development process can mitigate this primary source of error. MBSE moves system engineering practices from document-centric to model-centric approach in which the model becomes the primary systems engineering artefact to represent system specification and design. The adoption of this new approach requires careful consideration of the cultural change, adequate training, and a new methodology. This paper describes the feasibility study, results and lesson learned on the MBSE maturity acquired in Alenia Aermacchi Information System and Engineering departments applying MBSE to Product Life-Cycle Management (PLM) and Document Management. It is based on the University of Salento expertise about modelling languages and on the Alenia Aermacchi experience on System Engineering. SysML has been used as standard language, IBM Harmony Methodology as system engineering methodology and IBM Rhapsody as modelling tool