Question

1 A baseline design is the same as the final design?

(A) True (B) Cost False

2 For the example of the firewater design we talked about in the lectures, if we said the water pump pressure must be greater than 60 psi when tested monthly, we would be establishing a:

(A) FEL requirement (B) TPM

(C) cost

(D) None of the above

3 If we are talking about step 2.1.3 in a system, we are talking about a step that is two levels down:

1.       True
2.       False   

4 Specifications that are set too tight are referred as “overdesigning” and risk driving costs too high:

1.       True
2.       False  

5 Sub-systems within an architecture should be designed so that if one component fails, it impacts all the other components and the system as a whole:

1.       True
2.       False

    6 When a system fails it is likely because a single person made a mistake:

1.       True
2.       False

    7 BP’s Deepwater disaster had multiple causes for the failure?

1.       True
2.       False

    8 If you were leading a meeting that was to Define the Problem, circle all the topics that you would put on the agenda (there are two solutions):

1. Identification of the “need”
2. Discussion of who the contractors will be
3. Discussion of who the customer is and what they want
4. Functional analysis
5. A discussion of a proposed detailed design solution

     9 It is never appropriate to go back and re-visit the problem definition when you are in the functional analysis step of a system design?

1.       True
2.       False

10 How many barriers were stated to be breached and that led to the Deepwater disaster?

1. One
2. Four
3. Five
4. None
5. Eight

11 As we work a project through the systems engineering process, which of the following are things we would be doing? (There is more than one answer!)

1. Ensuring traceability of technical performance measures
2. Ensuring the process is followed closely and without skipping steps
3. Emphasizing picking the final design as quickly as possible
4. Allowing for re-consideration of issues raised earlier in the process such as in the problem definition step
5. Ensuring documentation for each step is being done
6. Ensuring there is total cost visibility of each option being considered in tradeoff studies

12 One key reason for allowing feedback to the original “problem definition” is that it could lead the process to an entirely different solution?

1.       True
2.       False

13 Circle all the reasons why it is important to consider the entire life cycle of a system’s design (there is more than one answer):

1. To ensure all the costs for various alternatives are known
2. To ensure you’ve designed for “disposability”
3. 14 psi
4. 15 psi

14 In the system engineering process, the step immediately after defining the problem is:

1. Do a functional analysis
2. Identify and prioritize TPM’s
3. Do a feasibility analysis
4. Explore the maintenance and support concept
5. None of the above

15 The systems engineering design process can be thought of as a:

1. A “best practice” built from past engineering design experiences including their faults and failures:
2. One of a number of different work processes that all give the same result
3. A way of maximizing the cost of doing a project
4. A way of minimizing the cost of doing a project

Answer 1

1. B. False

Baseline stage is the initial stage without proper details/data. Final design is much different, after detailed analysis.

2. B

It would define, it satisfies a Technical Performance Measurement

3. A. True

The step number defines there are 2 processes before the step

4. A. True

Setting high standards includes a higher factor of safety, that leads to overdesigning and higher cost

5. B. False

A failure in one system, shouldn't generally affect other processes in the system

6. B False

The failure could also be due to multiple individuals

7. A. True

The report concluded the spill due to systemic root causes

8. C. Discussion of who the customer is, and D. Functional analysis

The problem with respect to a company's product should primarily consider the customer's need, and there has to be a detailed and systematic analysis to define the problem

9. B. False.

It is always suggested to keep the problem to solve in the mind, and to revisit the problem statement to obtain clarity at every stage

10. A. One

The breaching of a cement barrier caused mainly the leakage of oil and gas

11. A, B, D & E.

All the above steps to be ensured in a systems engineering process

12. A. True

All these steps ensure process improvements

13. A

*It seems options C & D are mentioned incorrectly here*

14. A. Functional Analysis

Functional analysis follows the problem defining stage

15. A

It is a best practice built from the previous experiences and errors