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System Engineering is widely recognized as an effective tool for developing complex systems. What is not widely recognized is that it is not just another engineering discipline, but also a structured process for solving any complex problem. The discipline skills required include an understanding of this process and how to modify it to meet the demands of each project. Each company should have a well defined process published as System Engineering Practices. These practices are targeted to the most complex project that can be envisioned, and adapted to meet the needs of each project to which they will be applied.

It is widely accepted that electronics will be used extensively for control functions on future vehicles. It is customary for such systems to include a certain amount of Built In Test (BIT) capabilities. The electronics are capable of providing the BIT fault codes and a wealth of additional data to the mechanic, through either a direct connection to the controller or an on-board network. This data can be extremely valuable for assessing the condition of the vehicle and performing diagnostics. Scan tools are available which can connect to the controller or network and enable the mechanic to easily access these BIT fault codes and data. The present danger to the successful maintenance support of these vehicles is that there may be a misunderstanding of what additional information and tools will be required. BIT by itself, even with a scan tool, cannot provide full diagnostic and related maintenance support for future vehicles.