Rethinking and shaping engineering with Advanced Systems Engineering

Munich, 23 May 2023

The acatech IMPULSE on Advanced Systems Engineering (ASE), published today, explains how increasingly more complex systems engineering can be developed in Germany. Jan Wörner (acatech President), Albert Albers (spokesperson of the acatech Topic network Product Development and Production ) and Roman Dumitrescu (Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechatronic Systems Design IEM), presented the publication at the system:ability conference today.

As innovation never stops, systems engineering constantly needs to be reinterpreted and redeveloped – this calls for new ways of thinking and new approaches. Digitalisation and new technologies are driving these changes. This presents developers with new challenges, as people from very different disciplines now need to work together. Communication and cooperation between all the experts and corporate partners involved in this process of innovation mean that the resulting product or service can be tested, used and refined as quickly as possible. This new cross-cutting approach is also reflected in organisational and work cultures and in (AI-based) IT tools. This comprehensive new methodology, in which each step or process dovetails into the next, is known as “Advanced Systems Engineering” (ASE).

The acatech IMPULSE published clarifies what ASE is and where the challenges lie for engineering. Application scenarios illustrate the technical and social issues that can be resolved by ASE. Various courses of action show, for example, how companies can enhance their strategic competence, which policy measures can be taken and what science can do to make ASE a reality in Germany.

Tackling the major transformational challenges, such as digitalisation, sustainable development, mobility and energy supply for example, requires engineering excellence. With Advanced Systems Engineering, Germany will remain competitive into the future.

Jan Wörner, acatech President

 

We cannot approach the challenges arising from product development in the 21st century using 20th century methods. Advanced Systems Engineering is a core element of future practice for successful engineering.

Albert Albers, spokesperson of the acatech Topic network Product Development and Production

 

Self-driving cars, which need to keep an eye on other traffic and pedestrians, or power systems in which thousands of solar energy systems, wind turbines and electric cars work together with one another – the technical world that surrounds us is becoming increasingly complex and intertwined. This is possible thanks to ever-more powerful mechanical components, microprocessors and intelligent software, which are connected to one another via the internet and control centres.

In future, increasing numbers of experts from different disciplines will work together to develop these complex systems. To do this, they will need a new, common “technical language” that links all disciplines and facilitates and accelerates the development of new technologies. ASE’s aim is to develop such a common language and in this way play a decisive role in safeguarding the reliability of systems in the future. ASE is thus also setting the course for sustainable value creation, employment, welfare and prosperity in Germany.

Further information

Advanced Systems Engineering strategy – Central initiative for the future of Germany as an engineering and innovation hub (in German)
Video: Advanced Systems Engineering strategy – Central initiative for the future of Germany as an engineering and innovation hub (in German)
Explanatory video for Advanced Systems Engineering (in German)
Advanced Systems Engineering community (in German)
Website for the AdWiSE project (in German)
Information on the funding initiative by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (in German)