System Technical Performance Measures

This chapter delves into the essential aspects of system design, emphasizing the crucial role of translating requirements into quantitative design parameters. While requirements drive system design, they cannot directly shape systems, necessitating a bridge between them. Common system design parameters like reliability, maintainability, supportability, and usability are explored in detail. System reliability, its components, and mathematical modeling are examined, with a focus on series and parallel structures as fundamental elements. Methods such as failure mode effect analysis (FMEA) and faulty tree analysis (FTA) are introduced to address system failures from diverse perspectives, complementing each other for a comprehensive understanding. System maintainability is discussed in terms of ensuring prolonged operational status, with various related terms and availability measures elucidated. Design for maintainability is considered to streamline maintenance planning throughout the system life cycle. System supportability is defined, along with its factors and principles. The chapter introduces an optimal order quantity formula through the economic order quantity (EOQ) model in supply-chain-based supportability. Human factors engineering's significant impact on complex system design is highlighted. It encompasses human characteristics and limitations, applying them to enhance safety, efficiency, and user satisfaction. Key areas of application within system engineering, including work system design, anthropometry, and usability engineering, are explored. Usability engineering is elaborated upon, emphasizing the importance of combining user testing and heuristic evaluation to comprehensively assess interaction usability throughout the design life cycle. In summary, this chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the critical parameters and methods involved in system design, emphasizing the interplay between requirements, quantitative design parameters, and the multifaceted aspects of system performance and user experience.