When engineering transformation initiatives stall, it's rarely the technology that's to blame. In this week's roundup, Chad and Josh dig into why people resistance, not process gaps or technology issues, consistently ranks as the top challenge in MBD and MBSE initiatives, and why that resistance runs deeper than most change leaders expect. We're talking about identity, competency, and the very real fear of being left behind.

Chad shares takeaways from a live roundtable with three MBSE practitioners who landed on a surprising point of agreement: MBSE isn't always the right answer, and knowing when to reach for it — versus document-based systems engineering — requires a level of organizational judgment most companies haven't developed yet. Add AI to that mix, and both approaches start to look very different.

Speaking of AI, new research from Lifecycle Insights reveals that 76% of engineers at hard goods manufacturers are using AI for software development daily, and 52% say half the code they generate comes from AI tools. But here's the number that should give every engineering executive pause: 42% are not thoroughly reviewing that AI-generated code before committing it. Chad and Josh unpack what's actually driving that behavior — and it's not laziness.

The episode closes with a preview of an upcoming Lifecycle Insights publication on the political realities of MBD and MBE initiatives — specifically, what happens when engineering wants the model-based enterprise but procurement, manufacturing, and other functional departments don't report to you.

If you're leading or supporting an engineering transformation, this one is required listening.