In　order　to　reduce　time　and　costs,　while　maintaining　a　high　level　of　product　quality,　effective　implementation　of　systems　engineering　processes　may　be　beneficial　for　small　and　medium-sized　enterprises.　However,　applying　a　prescriptive　generic　system　engineering　standard　in　the　enterprise,　without　any　consideration　of　the　company＇s　organisation,　background　and　context,　is　inappropriate.　Moreover,　due　to　severe　resource　limitations,　the　difficulties　in　following　and　complying　with　a　standard　are　even　more　obvious　in　SMEs.　In　this　context,　this　paper　explores　a　framework　to　help　SMEs　evaluate　the　maturity　of　processes,　promote　a　progressive　deployment　and　standardisation　of　their　engineering　processes　to　manage　manufacturing　projects,　based　on　the　experience　and　practices　underway　in　SMEs　and　with　reference　to　international　systems　engineering　standards.　Our　proposal　is　to　stand　by　companies　to　help　them　evolve　their　engineering　processes　by　progressively　aligning　them　with　systems　engineering　standards　without　disrupting　the　overall　organisation　and　practices　of　the　company.