Combining the benefits of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and product line engineering (PLE), model-based product line engineering (MB-PLE) is applied for the design and development of the complex product line systems with variants. However, due to some limitations such as the visualization complexity and lack of support for variant selection, MB-PLE is still not widely applied in the manufacturing industry. In this paper, we propose a model-based systems engineering process in the early development phase to promote the application of the MB-PLE in the manufacturing industry. Through the integration of PSS-planning model, SysML4Mechatronics modeling language and an optimal variant selection approach, the proposed process facilitates the modeling of a product line system and supports the variant selection and architecture verification. The feasibility of the proposed systems engineering process is demonstrated with a case study.     «

Combining the benefits of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and product line engineering (PLE), model-based product line engineering (MB-PLE) is applied for the design and development of the complex product line systems with variants. However, due to some limitations such as the visualization complexity and lack of support for variant selection, MB-PLE is still not widely applied in the manufacturing industry. In this paper, we propose a model-based systems engineering process in the early...     »