[SystemSafety] The States and Modes debate

[Les Chambers]

Hi All
Reviewing the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook Section 1.3.6. Systems
States and Modes,  I notice that INCOSE persists in suggesting that a state
and a mode are two different entities. The handbook does not attempt to
differentiate between these labels and only gives an example for mode. As
an engineer who lived and breathed state engines for 10 years in chemical
processing control, I'm offended by this sloppy piece of prose. Given that
state engines lie at the heart of all well-formed control systems, our
profession cannot afford ambiguity here. My view is that the word "mode"
needs to be banished from the face of the Earth!
Furthermore... expressing my outrage to Gemini revealed this:
https://bit.ly/4nxSHPm
Note: In my context, we used neither term. For the sake of operator
understanding, Chemical reactors had "steps". An operator's work day
revolved around which step the reactor and associated equipment were in.
Would anyone care to weigh in on this issue?
Les
-----------------
Les Chambers
https://www.systemsengineeringblog.com/
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