Systems Engineering has always drawn heavily on detailed sets of drawings to convey high level systems concepts, system architecture and organization, and even detailed graphical depictions of key algorithms and other behavior. With the advent of the SysML language supporting a uniform and standards-based set of semantics for systems modeling and appropriate modeling technology to capture, organize, and transform these models, the state of practice is now pivoting from ad-hoc
diagramming to a more rigorous and consistent modeling approach.

This paper outlines a solid foundation in core modeling skills for systems engineers building complex, high-performance systems with the SysML language. With a focus on modeling fundamentals, this paper outlines how teams can get started with proven techniques and a simple step-by-step approach, and deliver substantially improved business results like faster time to market, better quality and reduced cost. These proven techniques build a solid start for teams making the shift from ad-hoc diagramming to a more rigorous model-driven approach.