Knowledge Capture, Cross Boundary Communication and Early Validation with Dynamic A3 Architectures

Abstract

Abstract Understanding and extracting systems information is a time consuming, demanding and expensive process. Complicating factors are cross‐boundary communication methods and tools. We combine an informal and formal systems engineering method; Lean manufacturing principles and Model Based systems Engineering (MBSE) resulting in Dynamic A3 architecture. Dynamic A3 Architecture is a hierarchy of overviews from super‐system to sub‐system that the reader can navigate through active links. We applied the method to a lube oil system of a gas turbine package. We found that Dynamic A3 Architecture can ease internal and cross boundary communication, train new employees, facilitate knowledge capture, and share common understanding of the “system of interest”. A functional sequence diagram, which is a hybrid of a state and functional diagram, can assist in early validation of process applications.