92: Unpacking Digital Twin Series: MBSE

In this foundational episode, we kick off a two-part conversation with renowned MBSE thought leader David Long, former president of INCOSE and long-time advocate for model-based systems engineering. Hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott explore the role MBSE plays in enabling Digital Twins, especially in early lifecycle phases, and clarify how MBSE supports—not replaces—high-fidelity simulation and engineering tools.

We cover:

• What MBSE is and isn’t (hint: it’s not its own silo)
  
  
• Where MBSE fits into the Digital Twin journey
  
  
• How MBSE supports architecture across the product, factory, and enterprise
  
  
• The importance of first-order (0D/1D) models in early systems thinking
  
  
• MBSE’s relationship to simulation, sustainability, and organizational design
  
  
• Why the middle management layer is the key to successful adoption
  
  

David also introduces the idea of MBSE acting as the “connective tissue” that unifies disciplines—not a high-fidelity replacement tool, but a crucial framework for clarity, collaboration, and continuous evolution.

🧰 Resources & Links Mentioned:

📘 MBSE & Digital Twin Concepts:

• MBSE Primer (co-authored by David Long)
  
  
• INCOSE – International Council on Systems Engineering
  
  
• Digital Twin Types: Surrogate, Shadow, and Full Twin
  
  
• Conway’s Law – How Organizational Structure Impacts System Design
  
  
  

🧠 Simulation, Modeling & Architecture:

• Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI)
  
  
• Virtual Twin vs. Digital Twin (Dassault Systèmes)
  
  

📩 Contact & Subscribe:

🎧 Subscribe to Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering on your favorite podcast platform
▶️ Watch full episodes on Razorleaf’s YouTube Channel
📬 Got questions for David Long? Send us an email at [email protected]

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