Affiliation:
1. Helper Westsingel 1A, 9721 BA Groningen The Netherlands
2. University of Twente Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede The Netherlands
3. Thales Netherlands Zuidelijke Havenweg 40, 7554 RR Hengelo The Netherlands
Abstract
AbstractThales is a worldwide leader in innovative radar and mission solution systems used by naval ships. As the demand for personalized products increased through time, Thales shifted from a project‐oriented to a product‐oriented approach. This shift aims to capitalize on variants, minimize customization, and streamline operations. In this context, Thales established a mission solution configuration process (SCP) to facilitate the selection of product variants to compose a system during the bidding phase. However, the current SCP has limitations, constraining exploration and integration with engineering processes and system data. Consequently, the proposed systems sometimes fall short of the most optimal solution the client could get. Therefore, the objective of this work is to develop and validate an improved mission solution configuration process to streamline the creation and selection of product variants at Thales, particularly during the bidding phase, to better meet client needs and operational requirements. This method integrates Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Tradespace Exploration (TSE), utilizing ARCADIA as the methodology and Capella as the tool. A descriptive model is generated for analytical purposes within TSE, employing Multi‐Attribute‐Utility‐Theory (MAUT) and Pareto‐Optimization for evaluating and selecting optimal mission solution variants. Validation was conducted through a Coast Guard mission case study involving 125 solution variants, revealing Pareto‐optimal solutions balancing performance and cost. This method enhances the current configuration process by aligning client and operational needs with Thales's sales and product teams, ensuring accurate interpretation of requirements and minimizing information inconsistencies. The case study results identify technological gaps in variant designs, guiding research and development efforts towards subsystems or components with significant impact on system performance.