Presentation Systems Engineering Test & Evaluation Conference 2024

Overview

The integrator, responsible for orchestrating the coming together of the entire system and its incorporation into the operational environment, must understand the holistic process from concept to disposal or upgrade. This paper provides some guidance to integrators for managing integration, and for delivery authorities in shaping the integration functions and teams on large complex engineering projects. 

Context

Systems Integration plays a pivotal role in getting a project into service, ensuring seamless coordination among technical and operational elements of the system. Lessons learned from past projects frequently cite the lack of up-front integration work as a key cause of the project's troubles. 

Purpose

This paper explores the significance of holistic integration and “owning the whole”, emphasising that problems often arise during the integration phase due to issues originating in earlier stages of development and most importantly how to avoid them. 

Approach

1. Holistic Approach: Define integration across the lifecycle from concept to disposal, and frame it within the context of a wider capability uplift. 
2. Identify Common integration challenges: Highlight common challenges faced during integration, both technical, and human/organisational. 
3. Role of the Integrator: Define the role and qualities of a good integrator.

Insights

This paper underscores the need for proactive integration planning, emphasising the interconnectedness of people, processes, and infrastructure within engineering projects, and provides guidance on the qualities of the people on these essential roles.