This month's Cloudforest article reviews the concept of the engineering 'Technology Stack' - the integrated tools and data supporting the development process - and offers guidance on how to use it to accelerate technical programmes, improve product quality, and diminish cost, complexity and lead time.
In software engineering, the term 'Technology Stack' refers to the integrated set of technologies used to support mobile apps and websites. The concept can be extended to other engineering disciplines, with the recent emergence of a suite of digital technologies supporting the product life-cycle beyond design and into deployment.
Advances in information technology, and in particular the growth of IoT and data analytics, have created multiple tools supporting the product life cycle, and enable near-synchronous data exchange between R&D, engineering, production and operations.
The principle advantage created by technology stacks are the subprocess enhancements created - Simulation gets better with realworld data; Abstract simulations are improved by better component models; Test planning is more efficient when supported by predicted performance. Incrementally improving each of these elements substantially improves the delivery of the whole programme.
Supporting the Product Development V - Model
A key conceptual theme is the strategic sharing and integration of data between the different digital systems supporting the life-cycle V-model:
On the left-hand side of the V, the development phase is supported by layers of simulation:
Application Modelling - Focuses on the interaction of the product or technology with the outside world, such as potential cost-benefit. Models are at an abstract level.
Systems Modelling - Focuses on high-level system design optimisation, duty-cycles, performance and behaviour. Models are complex, multi-dimensional and output data can be considerable.
Component Modelling - Component design optimisation, through exploration of component environment, behaviour and performance. Complex models often require specialist software packages.
On the right-hand side of the V, data acquisition and analysis systems support validation:
Unit Testing - Component testing on rigs, stands and in the lab.
System Testing - Focuses on testing the technology and subsystems as a complete unit, validating performance and durability.
Operator / Usage Data - Focuses on collecting and analysing operator data.
Well-planned development processes, automation and data storage design all act to support data sharing and exchange.
Implementation Strategies
So how do you plan the integration of the digital systems supporting an engineering programme? As part of either continuous improvement, or building a new system, these steps can help:
1. Map your product V - Model
Sketch the product V-model at an abstract level, identifying the main steps and the digital technologies used to support each step (on both sides).
2. Audit existing systems
Examine each of the steps and supporting digital technologies - What are the inputs and outputs? Which systems interface with each other, directly or indirectly?
3. Identify gaps or weaknesses
Reviewing interfaces should identify where there is mismatch between outputs from one system and inputs to another, such as pieces of simulation work without routes to validation.
4. Identify solutions
Weaknesses identified, where can the best returns be made by developing solutions?
5. Implementation
Once desirable solutions are identified, prepare implementation plans for development and roll-out. This can involve infrastructure updates, new processes and staff training.
This is a cyclic process of continuous improvement, repeated regularly and consistently pushing for greater system integration.
Summary
In this month's post, we reviewed the concept of the engineering technology stack, including what it is, the benefits created, and how to take this approach with new or existing product development programmes.
A key conceptual theme is the strategic integration and sharing of data between different elements of a development programme, with the objective of enhancing these elements and driving down delivery costs and time whilst driving up product quality. This is something that leading organisations are doing today, but is equally possible for organisations, of all sizes, to initiate.
I hope you found this month's post interesting - If you're interested in finding out more, please do get in touch with us, either via our LinkedIn page, or at www.cloudforest.tech.
Many thanks,
Paul
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