Selection of Product Configuration
The following trade-off criteria administer the selection of a product configuration based on a specific allocation of performance and function to generic system parts
Project considerations. Can the configuration be established within pre-established schedule and cost bound? What is the risk associated with schedule and cost estimates?
Business considerations. Can it be marketed successfully? Will ultimate payoff justify development risk? Does the configuration represent the most profitable solution?
Technical analysis. Can the configuration be adequately maintained? Does the technology exist build all elements of the system? Are function and performance assured? Does technical resource exist? What is the risk associated with the technology?
Manufacturing evaluation. Can quality assurance be adequately performed? Are developed equipment and facilities available? Is there a shortage of necessary component?
Human Issues. Does the customer understand what the system is to accomplish? Are trained personnel available for manufacture and development? Do political problems exist?
Environmental Interfaces. Are human-to-machine and machine-to-machine communication handled in an intelligent manner? Does the proposed configuration properly interface with the system's external environment.
Legal Considerations. Can proprietary aspects be adequately protected? Is there potential infringement? Does this configuration introduce undue liability risk?
It is very important to note that the system engineer should also consider off- the shelf solutions to the customer's problem. Can major element of a solution be buying from a 3rd party? Does an equivalent system previously exist?
The application of trade-off criteria results in the selection of an exact system configuration and the specification of performance and function allocated to software, hardware, databases, people, documentation and process. Essentially the scope of performance and function is allocated to each engineering parts of the product. The role of software engineering, hardware engineering, human engineering and database engineering is to procedure and refine scope an operational product parts which can be properly integrated with other parts.