An Examination of the Trade Study Process at NASA

Abstract

:Engineering managers increasingly rely on trade study processes to design optimum system architectures. Opinions on what constitutes a quality trade study differ, and this can hinder the engineering manager in determining what trade study processes to follow. This article contributes to the manager's body of knowledge by identifying trade study best practices through reviews of published research and interviews with engineers who conducted successful trade studies supporting the design of complex space systems.A checklist of trade study best practices was developed. Three completed NASA trade studies were then evaluated against the checklist in conjunction with interviews of engineers involved in the studies. Through one-on-one interviews with engineers, assessments were made on the value, appropriateness, and effectiveness of each trade study. Key issues, taken from the checklist, were addressed and the lessons learned were identified. The goal of the study was to establish the groundwork for a more detailed analysis of trade study processes. The engineering manager can use these preliminary findings to ensure that their trade study processes are timely, set up properly, and contain needed checks and balances.