Cavendish Nuclear (CNL) is a leading provider of a comprehensive range of critical nuclear solutions both in the UK and internationally. CNL are supplying design and build services to Springfields Fuels Limited (SFL), a subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC), for a programme to develop a new nuclear fuel capability on their site. Optima provided Systems Engineering expertise to the programme which allowed us to steer core parts of the Engineering Strategy. Optima played a pivotal role in defining the top-level requirements, breaking these down into requirements to steer detailed design, and driving the supplementary Systems Engineering processes to facilitate the maturation of the design.
Introduction
SFL are creating a new nuclear capability on their site to fill a gap in the market. They have asked CNL to provide design & build services to create this new capability, and CNL engaged Optima to provide Systems Engineering expertise to the programme.
Challenges and Objectives
At the outset of the programme, the required capability had not yet been fully defined, and a common understanding had not yet been established across all stakeholders. As a result, requirements were changed frequently, challenging the design engineers. A key objective was to provide a firm problem space by helping form a bounding set of top-level customer requirements. Once this was achieved, the objective was to break these down into more detailed requirements and agree this understanding between parties. These more defined requirements gave clearer direction to design teams on what to achieve and all parties could feel confident that the design was producing the top-level capabilities.
Before Optima’s involvement, the programme was in the early stages of establishing the Systems Engineering capability required to support a project of this complexity. Recognising the importance of a robust Systems Engineering approach, CNL selected Optima as a strategic partner to help develop and embed the required capability. Optima worked closely with the programme team to establish key Systems Engineering processes, provide specialist expertise, and support the upskilling of programme stakeholders, enabling the design to mature in a structured and effective manner.
In addition to the process challenges above, the nuclear capability being developed presented a unique set of technical and operational challenges within the UK nuclear sector; the new capability also had to be built on an existing busy site. This meant the programme had to coordinate several specialist engineering disciplines, resulting in numerous interfaces and uncertainties for Optima’s Systems Engineering team to manage.
Approach
Optima initially elicited needs of the programme and helped form the top-level customer requirements; this then enabled the process to interpret them and break them down into more detailed requirements (system requirements). Optima ensured that the system requirements were agreed by all parties and provided enough detail for design teams to have clear direction. If the top-level customer requirements changed, Optima provided impact analysis on the broken-down system requirements.
To support the above process, several other supporting processes needed to be created. Optima co-authored and developed the Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) for the whole programme, which integrated the various Systems Engineering processes, including:
- Requirement Interpretation & Break-Down Process;
- Verification & Validation Process – facilitating Continuous Assurance, thus achieving Compliance of the design to the requirements;
- Technical Uncertainty Management Process – resolve assumptions arising from the Requirement Interpretation & Break-Down Process;
- Interface Management Process – to ensure requirements facilitated the correct integration between systems.
The roll-out of the SEMP ensured that the programme was being upskilled in the processes above. Optima supported these processes with Working Groups to ensure that any discussions arising from the use of the processes were resolved with the necessary stakeholders.
Results
- Optima’s structured requirements development approach ensured that all parties would have a shared understanding of the nuclear capability need and the problem space. Top-level requirements could then be confirmed by all parties as understood and broken-down correctly in order to guide the design effort.
- Optima rolled out the required Systems Engineering processes for the programme to supplement and improve the requirement break-down process.
- Optima helped establish and embed Systems Engineering processes, tools and ways of working that strengthened the programme’s Systems Engineering capability. This capability was essential to supporting the successful delivery of the programme.
Client Quotes
“On behalf of everyone across the RepU programme, I’d like to thank […] the Optima team for all of your hard work, support and contribution throughout your time on the project. Your efforts have been greatly appreciated and have played an important part in moving the programme forward.”
Suzanne Evans, Senior Project Manager, Cavendish Nuclear
“The client is really happy with you! […] [The client] is consistently coming to Optima for assuming full responsibility so please see this as a massive compliment. You’re doing great and keep doing what you’re doing!”
Glenn Moss, Senior Engineering Manager, Cavendish Nuclear
Disclaimer
This case study reflects Optima’s contribution to a wider multi-disciplinary programme delivered by Cavendish Nuclear Limited on behalf of Springfields Fuels Limited.
