Abstract

Product Line Engineering (PLE) methodologies have provided gains in productivity and quality in the production of software to the point that the discipline is often referred to as Software Product Line Engineering. These gains are accomplished through reuse and management methods. PLE methods can be applied to the development of all system engineering artifacts, resulting in astonishing gains in productivity and quality. This presentation will explore observations in the application of PLE to systems engineering from three aspects. The affects on people, process, and parts will be discussed. How does an organization need to change to leverage the benefits of PLE? Are changes needed to your engineering processes? What parts of your system can be engineered with a PLE approach?

Speaker's Bio

Bill earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical/electrical engineering from General Motors Institute, now Kettering University and his master's degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. After graduation in 1984, he joined GM developing engine control algorithms and calibration. In 1996 he became the Manager of GM Powertrain's Algorithm Engineering department. In 2000, Bill was promoted to GM Technical Fellow responsible for GM Powertrains Global Control Engineering Processes. In this role, he led the Controls Engineering Process Group responsible for process improvement activities, including ISO 9001 and CMMi. In 2009, Bill's role expanded to include all of GM's Electrical, Controls and Software development, for both Powertrain and Vehicle Product Development, where Bill lead a program to update and converge GM's engineering processes and tools used globally.

In 2013, Bill joined the IBM Rational team as a Global Automotive Solution Executive where he is helping the industry adopt smarter product development processes and tools. Bill holds 16 US patents for automotive related innovations. These contributions to GM's technology have earned him four "Boss" Kettering Awards, GM's highest recognition for engineering invention. In 1995, Bill was the first winner of the $500,000, Lemelson-MIT Prize, the nation's largest single prize for invention and innovation.

Speaker's Bio

Sarah Crary Gregory is a Senior Partner in the Intel Emergent Systems and Coaching team (IESC), Intel Corporation. In addition to worldwide development and deployment of Requirements Engineering methods and practices, IESC hosts the annual Agile@Intel conferences, instructs practitioners and senior management in principles of Agile, Lean, Kanban, Complex Adaptive Systems, and Solutions Thinking, and explores and pilots initiatives to address the organizational and methodological challenges of complexity in our global multinational environment.

As a Senior Methodologist in Requirements Engineering, Sarah develops and mentors Requirements Engineering subject matter experts across Intel worldwide, conducts training, and trains many course trainers. She is currently researching and piloting various pedagogical experiments in distance learning and cross-cultural instruction in RE. In fifteen years at Intel, she has extensively explored the human aspects of sociotechnical systems, primarily through the lens of requirements engineering. Her research interests reside in those boundary spaces, the marginal areas where aspects of culture intersect and overlap with product development efforts. Sarah's academic background includes graduate degrees in Law, Information Science, and Systematic Theology, and she is currently pursuing a doctorate in Social Theory. Sarah lives in San Francisco, California.

Speaker's Bio

Jas is a seasoned professional whose career has spanned over 25 years of helping project teams and organizations reach their potential. As a Certified Business Analysis Professional® (CBAP®), a Project Management Professional® (PMP®), a Certified Agile Project Manager (Cert. APM®), and a Certified Change Management Expert (Prosci®), Jas leverages a unique combination of knowledge, skills and experience for each challenge.
During his career, Jas has experienced a wide variety of industries as a Business Analyst, Project Manager, Technical Specialist, IT Software Development Manager, and Senior Management Consultant. He provides deep expertise in helping organizations leverage and integrate best practices across multiple disciplines to dramatically improve organization performance.
In his role of Product Manager - BA Practice Development at IIBA® (International Institute of Business Analysis), Jas serves a global community of business analysis professionals, providing innovative products and services that can be leveraged at an organizational level to drive better business outcomes.