AN INTEGRATIVE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING MODEL FOR PRODUCT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

Systems integration is crucial in highly technical products, not only for the current operational need, but also for future operations in a dynamic environment. A good case example is the various product development endeavors to support military operations. In a 2012 revelation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), it was reported that the U.S. Air Force would spend $9.7 billion over 20 years to upgrade the capabilities of its F-22A Raptor as a result of the service’s failure to anticipate the plane’s long-term need for technology modernization. This is a product integration debacle. Applying a systems engineering technique could improve the systems efficiency and process effectiveness for new product development. This paper presents the DEJI (Design, Evaluate, Justify, and Integrate) model as an enhancement technique that can facilitate the integration needs on the future continuum of new technological developments.