You have been asked to "design" something for someone. Creating a design seems like a simple enough task, but many who have gone down this road before you will agree that there are serious pitfalls to be avoided. This book is designed to help you avoid the pitfalls and create a design which successfully satisfies your customer's need. This book is not a textbook on design, systems, or systems engineering. It is a practical guide. I assume you have little to no systems background and lead you through using some key systems concepts in your design process. I give you some new ways to think about design as well as step you through a process for utilizing systems concepts to define requirements for your design problem. I help you understand how systems concepts can complement your technical engineering skills and make you a more effective designer.The book was designed for a junior level design course I teach, and my seniors also use it as a reference during their two-semester capstone design. Recent engineering graduates will also find it useful as they begin their career in industry. This is not a book you just read. Be ready to put what you read into practice on your current design problem.
About the Author: Dr. Fortney was trained in advanced manufacturing at Purdue University and received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee. At UT, Fortney's research focused on systems approaches to organizational improvement, and after graduation, he utilized Systems Engineering to design and install automated manufacturing systems for MasterBrand Cabinets. Fortney's Systems Engineering work at MasterBrand's Crossville, TN plant resulted in a system called "the rough mill of the future" and was featured in the November 1996 issue of Wood & Wood Products. His other roles at MasterBrand included corporate industrial engineering manager and general manager of Kinston, NC Facility. As general manager, Fortney used a Systems Engineering approach to design, create and operate all aspects (human resources, production control, manufacturing) of a new 600,000 Ft2 cabinet facility. Since MasterBrand, Fortney has been with North Carolina State University developing a new site-based engineering program focused on the unique needs of the Fleet Readiness Center East Research and Engineering Group for the Naval Air Systems Command. His ABET Accredited Mechanical Engineering Systems (MES) BSE program now provides NAVAIR with a steady stream of highly qualified mechanical engineers for their Havelock, NC facility. While creating the MES program, Fortney has spent over ten years developing tools and techniques to teach System Engineering to undergraduate mechanical engineering students. He has embedded these techniques within a junior level project-based course where students learn and experience the System Engineering approach and within his MES capstone design course. Outside of work, Fortney enjoys serving at church with his wife and playing with his many grandchildren.