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Engineering Systems Integration
volatility increases geometrically as the information ripples through the system, each object attempting to over- or undercompensate for the abnormal
input. Return to stability can require a “reset” of the inputs or a change in
the controls that govern each mechanism in the chain of events.*
From an integration perspective, the stability of the supply chain is describable in terms of structural asymmetric flows of objects and EMMI. Satisfying
supply for highly varying demands for products or services requires the
supply system to be broadly scalable in several dimensions—in essence a
network supply chain having high levels of capacity achieved in a single
chain or in a web of chains. Systems engineers might refer to such a web as
having back-up or redundant traits. Systems integrators might think in terms
of redundant functions. Stability in a system is achievable and sustainable in
multiple ways.
For a system, stability is essential to maintain its system-like characteristics. From this example of “the bullwhip effect” an errant input causes a
chain of events that can ripple, interaction by interaction, leading to unstable
operations or configurations of objects. Considering both the example of a
supply chain and the example of the bookend, object e 2 in Figure 2.1, stability
is an important facet of both a system and groupings of objects. In the case of
the supply chain, instability might be an over- or undersupply or demand;
therefore, the supply chain can be thought of as always being stable in its
flows (to a first order), but instable in its supply or demand. As such, the stability of a supply chain is dictated by the people who drive the supply and
who make demands for products or services. Extrapolating these causes for
instability for the supplier or the customer or user, an effective means of
stabilizing supply and demand to meet highly variable needs is to develop a
network of suppliers that supply through a network of chains to respond
effectively to highly variable demand. Effectiveness is determined by the
quality of the delivery of the product or service, that is, the deviation from
the desired quantity and timeliness of delivery. In the case of the bookend,
instability might be a loosely connected set of wood blocks, a nail that
detaches easily, or wood that splits apart due to cracks generated from driving the nail. The implications of these examples are that often just grouping
objects is sometimes as desirable as systems. † Therefore, stability in the bookend is achieved by reducing the variation in physical connections from that
of “firmly” connected.
Not all groupings or integrations increase value or utility from the perspective of the buyer or seller. Likewise, integration is not necessarily better than
aggregations. Integration is more than achieving certain effects from a system
or system of systems through it operations. Integration requires appropriate
* Interactions can be thought of as resulting in a single, one-time event, as a sequence of interactions, each precipitated singularly by the previous interaction (chain of events) or multiple
interactions, each precipitating multiple interactions (cascade of events).
† While there are many aspects of systems that are desirable, simple aggregations or conglomerations of objects are equally important and should be justifiably as important as systems.
Engineering Systems Integration
volatility increases geometrically as the information ripples through the system, each object attempting to over- or undercompensate for the abnormal
input. Return to stability can require a “reset” of the inputs or a change in
the controls that govern each mechanism in the chain of events.*
From an integration perspective, the stability of the supply chain is describable in terms of structural asymmetric flows of objects and EMMI. Satisfying
supply for highly varying demands for products or services requires the
supply system to be broadly scalable in several dimensions—in essence a
network supply chain having high levels of capacity achieved in a single
chain or in a web of chains. Systems engineers might refer to such a web as
having back-up or redundant traits. Systems integrators might think in terms
of redundant functions. Stability in a system is achievable and sustainable in
multiple ways.
For a system, stability is essential to maintain its system-like characteristics. From this example of “the bullwhip effect” an errant input causes a
chain of events that can ripple, interaction by interaction, leading to unstable
operations or configurations of objects. Considering both the example of a
supply chain and the example of the bookend, object e 2 in Figure 2.1, stability
is an important facet of both a system and groupings of objects. In the case of
the supply chain, instability might be an over- or undersupply or demand;
therefore, the supply chain can be thought of as always being stable in its
flows (to a first order), but instable in its supply or demand. As such, the stability of a supply chain is dictated by the people who drive the supply and
who make demands for products or services. Extrapolating these causes for
instability for the supplier or the customer or user, an effective means of
stabilizing supply and demand to meet highly variable needs is to develop a
network of suppliers that supply through a network of chains to respond
effectively to highly variable demand. Effectiveness is determined by the
quality of the delivery of the product or service, that is, the deviation from
the desired quantity and timeliness of delivery. In the case of the bookend,
instability might be a loosely connected set of wood blocks, a nail that
detaches easily, or wood that splits apart due to cracks generated from driving the nail. The implications of these examples are that often just grouping
objects is sometimes as desirable as systems. † Therefore, stability in the bookend is achieved by reducing the variation in physical connections from that
of “firmly” connected.
Not all groupings or integrations increase value or utility from the perspective of the buyer or seller. Likewise, integration is not necessarily better than
aggregations. Integration is more than achieving certain effects from a system
or system of systems through it operations. Integration requires appropriate
* Interactions can be thought of as resulting in a single, one-time event, as a sequence of interactions, each precipitated singularly by the previous interaction (chain of events) or multiple
interactions, each precipitating multiple interactions (cascade of events).
† While there are many aspects of systems that are desirable, simple aggregations or conglomerations of objects are equally important and should be justifiably as important as systems.