Engineering the Systems of Today and Tomorrow

SAN DIEGO - June 29, 2016 - PRLog -- Nearly everything is a system - spaceships, trains, manufacturing plants, consumer products and hospitals, to name a few - and all have elements that need to be integrated and interoperated to run successfully. As these systems become increasingly complex and ever more significant outcomes are needed, there is also greater room for error.

From July 18 to 21, systems engineers will gather in Edinburgh, Scotland to discuss engineering the systems of today and tomorrow and to share best practices and lessons learned as part of the International Council on Systems Engineering's (INCOSE) 26th Annual International Symposium. Held at the Edinburgh International Convention Center, the symposium is the largest annual gathering of systems engineers with 700 in attendance this year.

"Our theme this year is 'Achieving Excellence through Systems Engineering,'" said INCOSE President Alan Harding. "Attendees can expect four days of the latest developments in systems engineering theory and practice, engaging panel and roundtable sessions, and content spanning various application domains such as cyber-physical systems, healthcare, agile, lean, high speed rail, aerospace, defence, infrastructure, the Internet of Things and more. It will be our most extensive technical program yet!"

The annual symposium attracts an international mix of professionals at all levels, including practitioners in government and industry, as well as educators and researchers. Attendees include representatives from BAE Systems, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, GE, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Medtronic, Network Rail, Roche, Rolls-Royce and many more.

Playing off of the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the symposium will also feature a series of "Fringe" sessions, including a systems engineering-inspired magic show, parody panel of the UK television show "Mock the Week" and a themed pub quiz.

Scheduled keynote topics and speakers include:

• Energy: The System's The Thing
John Loughhead, chief scientific advisor
Department of Energy and Climate Change, United Kingdom

• Who are Yous? Systems Thinking for Growth and Transportation
Dr. Emma Langman, Fellow
Royal Society of Arts, United Kingdom
• The Future Belongs to Innovators
Julie Alexander, director for urban development
Siemens, United Kingdom
• Improving Conceptual Design: Opportunities for Model-based Methodologies
Kevin Robinson, group leader
DSTO (Defence Science and Technology Organisation), Australia
• Dancing with Ambiguity: Embracing the Tension Between Divergent and Convergent Thinking in Systems Engineering

Larry Leifer, professor of mechanical engineering design
Stanford University, USA

The Edinburgh International Convention Center, The Exchange - Edinburgh, is located in the Haymarket area at 150 Morrison St, Edinburgh EH3 8EE, United Kingdom.

Symposium sponsors to-date include Lockheed Martin, AIRBUS Group, 3DSE Management Consultants, John Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, PTC and how2SE.

For the most up-to-date information on the 26rd Annual INCOSE International Symposium and to register, visit: www.incose.org/symp2016.

About the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)

The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) is a not-for-profit membership organization that promotes international collaboration in systems engineering practice, education and research. INCOSE's mission is to "share, promote and advance the best of systems engineering from across the globe for the benefit of humanity and the planet." Founded in 1990, INCOSE celebrated its 25th anniversary last year with more than 70 chapters and over 10,000 members worldwide.

INCOSE acts as a source for systems engineering knowledge, helps establish professional standards, works to improve the professional status of systems engineers and offers a certification (http://incose.org/educationcareers/certification/index.aspx) program to formally recognize the knowledge and experience of industry professionals. The organization also produces a range of products, publications and events, including the Systems Engineering Handbook and International Symposium.

For additional information on INCOSE or to contact one of its members, please call 1-858-541-1752 or visit www.incose.org. Become a member (https://www.incose.org/cc_orders/joinINCOSE.cfm) today.