A newly formed partnership between Michigan Aerospace and GE Aerospace will develop stronger industry-ready academic programs for aerospace engineering students through collaboration in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and systems engineering leadership education through the x88 course series.
Senior leadership from GE Aerospace visited Michigan Aerospace to participate in the plaque hanging ceremony acknowledging the company’s contributions to the program.
GE Aerospace is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components, avionics and electrical power systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft.
Craig McMillan, System Development Leader; Dev Rajakrishna, Executive Engineering Leader;
Katie Nowicki, Digital Leader, GE Edison Works
From U-M: George Halow, Professor of Practice and MBSE Ecosystem Lead; Victoria Cobb, Aerospace student; Alexander Comai, Aerospace student; Elizabeth Troia, Materials Science & Engineering student; Adam Jones, U-M student and GE Sustainability Demonstrator project team lead; Caleb Erickson, Aerospace student; Diego Karlin, Aerospace student; Haydon Herron, Aerospace student; Andrew Painter, Aerospace student; Rainer Becker, Aerospace student;
Bradley Bialke, Aerospace student; Ethan McCartney, Aerospace student; Jonathan Abraham, Aerospace student
MBSE is the formalized application of modeling to support system requirements, design, analysis, verification and validation activities beginning in the conceptual design phase and continuing throughout development and later life cycle phases. It has become an industry best practice over the last few years, and U-M students with MBSE experience are highly sought after.
GE Aerospace is rapidly adopting MBSE throughout the business due to its significant benefits – reductions in development cycle time while simultaneously improving quality. In addition, GE’s customers are increasingly requiring MBSE. University of Michigan has a ground-breaking program in the fundamentals of systems engineering in combination with model-based engineering
The MBSE Lab at Michigan Aerospace is a first-of-its-kind program that offers a flexible product development and teaming space where students collaborate in cross-campus projects to design, build, test and fly aircraft using MBSE and industry-proven systems engineering tools and processes.
George Halow, Principal Investigator of the MBSE and systems effort and University of Michigan lead on the GE Aerospace relationship states, “This is a fantastic teaming of two powerful brands in aerospace – GE Aerospace and the University of Michigan. We could not be more delighted to see this partnership develop between two great organizations in the state of Michigan. The opportunity for us to increase the benefit to our state and the students and employees involved will have a lasting impact through our collaboration.”
GE Aerospace joins a variety of aerospace companies that recognize the importance of MBSE in redefining the industry.
Partnership in the program offers companies participation in gateway reviews of student projects, access to recruiting students in the program, ability to request specific systems projects in the course series, and a seat in sponsor working groups to shape future versions of the course to meet sponsor and industry needs.
The U-M student leading the project team for GE Aerospace is rising Junior Adam Jones. He comments, “I’m glad to be part of this growing ecosystem. The industry connections and mentoring have already done so much for me and the other students in the program. GE’s done a great job reaching out and connecting with us students, and we’re all eager to get started on next year’s project. I’m excited to see what comes of it!”
The MBSE programs have quickly become high in demand. Halow comments, “The program is already demonstrating impact. Students involved are rising to the top as leaders and as top recruits and not just Aerospace students. Our partner companies see and value this cross-functional representation. It mirrors team composition in large complex systems like aircraft and automobiles, critical skills for companies in Michigan and beyond.”
