From Overpacked Luggage to Engineering Clarity: A Holiday Story That Explains MBSE

A few years ago, my wife and I were planning a much-needed family holiday. We were excited, tired, and looking forward to a break from the usual pace of life. So naturally, we started packing with the goal of being “prepared for anything.”

But here’s what happened.

Before we even zipped up the bags, we had two full suitcases — and we hadn’t even packed for our five-year-old yet! 😅

From multiple jackets “just in case,” to extra shoes, backup outfits, and even travel snacks for a place that literally had restaurants on every corner… we were clearly overdoing it.

📌 Then something shifted.

We paused. Did some actual research on the destination — weather, local amenities, shops nearby, and travel constraints (like our airline’s baggage allowance). What we found changed everything:

• The hotel had laundry service. 👕

• There were pharmacies and clothing shops nearby. 🧴👗

• The forecast was stable: no need for all-weather gear. 🌞

• We were planning mostly day trips with light walking.

With those facts, we packed only the essentials. One shared suitcase. One backpack. Easy. Efficient. Focused.

🎯 So What Does This Have to Do with MBSE?

That moment reminded me of how many engineering teams build products:

They start packing (designing) with good intentions, using incomplete or scattered information:

• Some features based on guesswork.

• Some specs from a past project.

• Some “just in case” ideas that may never be used.

• Requirements written in Word docs, passed around in email threads.

This leads to bloated designs, missed constraints, and painful rework. 🚧

MBSE — Model-Based Systems Engineering — is like our vacation "research moment."

It forces you to model the destination (system needs) before you pack (design). You gather data, structure your requirements, and simulate how things interact before things go wrong.

Here’s how it fits with two key engineering principles:

✅ Requirements Verification: "Are we building the system right?"

In our story:

• We verified each packed item against the actual needs of the trip.

• Jackets? ❌ Not needed.

• Extra snacks? ❌ Redundant.

• Lightweight shoes? ✅ Useful for walking.

In MBSE, you verify requirements by making sure they are complete, consistent, and traceable to system elements. You’re not guessing — you’re checking each "item" against real system needs.

🎯 Design Validation: "Are we building the right system?"

After verifying our packing list, we asked:

“Does this setup still meet our holiday goals — fun, comfort, and light travel?”

✔️ It did.

In engineering, validation checks whether your design actually meets the original purpose. MBSE helps here by allowing simulations, traceability, and stakeholder reviews that confirm whether your design aligns with the intended use case — not just the spec.

💬 Final Thought: Pack Smart. Design Smarter.

Whether you're packing for a family vacation or engineering a complex system, the question remains the same:

Are you overpacking based on assumptions, or planning with clarity based on verified needs?

MBSE helps you:

• Connect requirements, design, and verification in a central model.

• Avoid feature bloat.

• Adapt quickly when things change.

• And keep everyone aligned — from stakeholders to engineers.

So next time you're tempted to just “throw in a few extra features,” remember the two full suitcases sitting by our door… that we never took. 😉

🔁 I'd love to hear your version of "overpacking" in a project — whether it's adding features, specs, or documentation. How did you refocus?