Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
AI TechDocKnowledge

Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration

System integration

German: Systemintegration

In systems engineering, system integration is the process of combining system elements, such as subsystems, hardware, software, data and people, into a complete system and verifying that they work together and with the system's environment as specified.

  • System integration

In one sentence

System integration combines subsystems, hardware, software, data and people into a complete system and verifies that they work together.

Example

Integrating a new filling line means connecting machines from four suppliers, the line controller, the MES interface and the building utilities, and testing the line as a whole.

How it applies

  • Engineering: ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 treats integration as a technical process with a strategy, enabling systems (test benches, simulators) and defined integration steps. Plan integration together with the architecture, not after it.
  • Interfaces: Agreed interface specifications are the precondition for integration. Late interface changes are the most common source of integration delays.
  • Verification: Integration steps are followed by verification; the complete system is then validated against the users' needs. See Verification and Validation.
  • Documentation: The integrator must produce documentation for the integrated system, not only collect supplier documents. For machinery, combining machines into an assembly can create new obligations, such as an overall risk assessment and conformity documentation for the assembly.

System integration vs. system integration test

System integration is the process of putting the system together. A System integration test is the verification activity that checks the integrated system, especially its interfaces and interactions.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2023, Systems and software engineering — System life cycle processes

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Knowledge and are not part of any standard.

Seen a mistake? Send us a note!