Model-Based Systems Engineering in Smart Manufacturing - Future Trends Toward Sustainability

Creating a more agile and productive industrial base using intelligent and emerging technologies relying on systems engineering is not only a progress key for any entity regardless of its size but also is the durability factor in the nowadays competitive industrial environment. Therefore, to promote the traditional document-based information exchange, serial design procedures, and single disciplinary analysis, systems of systems thinking would need to be expanded in organizations. This strategy should be implemented from the beginning of the project definition and stakeholder needs to the entire product development process throughout the V-diagram and persists throughout the product’s operational life. Despite recently developed tools and significant growth and movement from the level of Industry 1.0 to 4.0 toward smart manufacturing, many researchers are still trying to push the boundaries of manufacturing. However, companies have faced many challenges in addressing such technology growth trends in their long-term enterprise strategy and design. Although the Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools by visual modeling of the communication of the information alleviate some difficulties for companies in many respects, bridging between systems-level decisions, design requirements, and sustainability dimensions through connecting MBSE and Multidisciplinary Systems Design Optimization (MSDO) can promise strategic advantages and innovation. Providing such a combined tool with visual modeling helps manufacturers trace the effect of their decisions and achieve sustainable manufacturing goals faster. By reviewing the application of MBSE in smart factories, this paper will provide future research fields for further development to enable sustainable innovation in manufacturing and factory design.