Engineering And Manufacturing Development Research Articles

Use of Factors in Development Estimates: Improving the Cost Analyst Toolkit

Factor Estimating is a technique commonly used by defense acquisition analysts to develop cost estimations. However, previous studies developing factors for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the life cycle are limited. This research expands the current toolkit for cost analysts by developing cost factors in previously unexplored areas. More specifically, over 400 cost reports are utilized to create new standard cost factors that are delineated by five categories: commodity type, contract type, contractor type, development type, and Service. The factors are developed for those elements that are common in a wide array of projects such as program management, systems engineering, data, or training. This new factor dataset provides cost analysts with the information necessary to appropriately identify and select the most relevant factors to use when developing future cost estimates. Through statistical analysis, the research also helps identify those elements in which more analysts’ time and energy should be allocated when developing their estimates.

The Relationship of Technology and Design Maturity to DoD Weapon System Cost Change and Schedule Change During Engineering and Manufacturing Development,

ABSTRACTEvery year, the Department of Defense (DoD) invests billions of dollars on the development of major defense acquisition programs. In return, many of these weapon systems have been plagued with cost overruns and schedule delays during the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase. Under conflicting guidance, DoD and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) suggest that weapon systems should contain subsystems with relatively mature technologies (based on the Technology Readiness Level of critical technologies) and design mature (based on the percentage of releasable design drawings) during system development. However, there has been no published research to date on the relationship between technology and design maturity guidance and the resulting cost change and schedule change of DoD weapon systems. The research presented in this paper confirms that the GAO guidance for design maturity can lead to a reduction of cost growth and schedule slippage of DoD weapon systems. In contrast, the research indicates that technology maturity guidance only impacts the schedule change of weapon systems, and not the potential cost change. With the quantitative results from the research, DoD and GAO officials can provide additional guidance to the planning and execution of the EMD phase, such as allocation of research and development funds to maturity achievement efforts.

5.8.4 The Boeing Standard Systems Engineering Approach To Systems Architecting and Its Application To The V‐22 Osprey

AbstractThis paper describes the Boeing standard systems engineering approach, or process, to systems architecting and its application for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phases of the V‐22 program. It is applicable to both MV‐22 (the Marine baseline configuration) and CV‐22 (the Special Operations Forces (SOF) configuration). (This is a joint program under the overall direction of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).) It details the integration effort of design engineering, specialty engineering, test engineering, supportability and manufacturing engineering to meet cost, technical performance and schedule objectives. It defines the systems engineering management process for design, development, test and evaluation tasks required to progress from an operational need to deployment of a well architected and subsequently successful operation of the V‐22 system by the customer.

Metrics and Processes for F‐22 Requirements Management

AbstractThe F‐22 Advanced Tactical Fighter Program has documented over 76,000 functional and design requirements in more than 231 hardware and software specifications during its Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of development. Because of the complex and integrated nature of the requirements, it was necessary to develop an automated relational database tool in which to store, track and analyze these requirements.Besides selecting an electronic tool to use team wide, a process had to be developed for the requirements change process, along with metrics for the tool to generate, in order to monitor the process. The process had to be acceptable and nonintrusive to procedures already established at the three primary contracting companies of Locheed Martin Aeronautical Systems, Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems, and Boeing. The metrics needed to be easily collected and provide relevant data to the health and accuracy of the overall database.This paper documents the criteria which went into tool selection, the procedures established for tool use, and the metrics developed to monitor the process.

MODELING AND SIMULATION BASED SYSTEM INTEGRATION APPROACH

ABSTRACTThis paper describes a modeling and simulation (M&S) based approach to provide life cycle support for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) M2A3. The BFV A3 is being developed under an Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) program at United Defense LP (UDLP). The BFV A3 Upgrade program incorporates lessons learned in the Desert Storm Operation. Upgrades are primarily in the area of fire control, electronics and software.

SYSTEM INTEGRATION LABORATORY ‐ A NEW APPROACH TO SOFTWARE/ELECTRONICS SYSTEM INTEGRATION

ABSTRACTThis paper describes the system definition and integration approach adopted for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) M2A3 Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) program at United Defense LP. The BFV A3 Upgrade program incorporates lessons learned in the Desert Storm Operation. Upgrades are primarily in the area of fire control, electronics and software.Modern electronics and software systems are relatively complex. Subsystems have to be integrated so that they perform cohesively to implement sophisticated system functions with minimal supervision from human operators. This cohesive implementation, or system integration, requires special discipline, knowhow, facility, and organization. This paper describes a systems engineering approach that allows an understanding of the system early in the program, identifies problem areas and generates candidate solutions before commencement of system design. It also describes the advantages of this approach.The approach described was used on the BFV A3 program. A System Integration Laboratory (SIL) was constructed and a rapid prototyping methodology was adopted to generate a simulation, emulation, and stimulation (SES) early in the program to allow for a better understanding of the overall system. The SIL also created an incremental integration environment that allowed the system to be integrated using the philosophy of “build‐a‐little, test‐a‐little, and integrate‐a‐little” to simplify the integration tasks and reduce program risk.

Schedule Estimating Relationships for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development of Bomber, Transport, Tanker, and Surveillance Aircraft Systems

Abstract : This study developed parametric schedule estimating relationships (SERs) for the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase for nontactical aircraft systems. The potential value of this nontraditional approach to estimating schedule duration has been established by previous applications to tactical aircraft, air-launched munitions, and office buildings. Prior research suggested acquisition strategy parameters to be significant schedule drivers. For this study, data on EMD milestone dates and potential schedule drivers were collected on 56 bomber, transport, tanker, and surveillance aircraft systems. Several SERs were developed for these systems using linear regression analysis. The EMD phase was divided into subphases based on significant milestone such as first prototype flight, first production- article flight, first production-article delivery, and first delivery to the operating command. The final SERs include explanatory variables that capture the acquisition strategy and physical characteristics of the systems. The SERs can be applied by program managers to estimate the EMD schedule of nontactical aircraft systems before entry into EMD. Scheduling, Parametric analysis, Acquisition, Aircraft, Estimates, Regression analysis.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES IN INTEGRATED PRODUCT TEAM IMPLEMENTATION

AbstractThis paper presents a brief case study of the obstacles encountered and lessons learned as a result of the implementation of the concurrent engineering process during the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the F‐22 program. The process is on‐going; the organizational structure and implementation procedures continue to evolve as the program matures. Results to date have been highly encouraging. Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company is developing plans to implement the process on all of its existing and future defense programs.

INTEGRATED MASTER PLAN / INTEGRATED MASTER SCHEDULE

AbstractThe Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Request For Proposals called for several dramatic changes in the acquisition process along the guidelines proposed by the Packard Commission. The ATF EMD Program was to truly be an event‐based program, as opposed to being driven predominantly by a schedule produced before the proposals were submitted. How can a major aircraft EMD program be managed apart from a schedule? Of course, it cannot. For the F‐22 EMD Program, an Integrated Master Plan (IMP) was developed, defining all essential tasks in a hierarchial and Integrated Product Team format. The IMP describes the Events, Significant Accomplishments, and Accomplishment Criteria to be completed to the satisfaction of the SPO/Contractor team throughout the nine year EMD Program. The IMP indicates which Work Breakdown Structure element is primarily tasked with each Accomplishment Criteria, the multiple Accomplishment Criteria under a specific Significant Accomplishment, and the multiple Significant Accomplishments necessary to successfully demonstrate satisfactory Event closure. The IMP is a contractual document, without calendar dates. An associated Integrated Master Schedule expands the contractual IMP by adding an expected schedule to every Event, Significant Accomplishment, and Accomplishment Criteria. The IMS also adds sub‐criteria Tasks to some Accomplishment Criteria. In the early stages of the EMD Program, the IMP has already demonstrated its value by instilling a discipline to the concurrent engineering nature of the F‐22 Program that might otherwise have been very difficult to achieve.

REQUIREMENTS TRACEABILITY ON THE F‐22 PROGRAM

AbstractThis paper presents the requirements traceability approach taken on the Engineering Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase of the F‐22 Program, formerly known as the Advanced Tactical Fighter Program (ATF). Traceability was implemented through the incorporation of an automated CASE tool to track hierarchial requirements, vertically and laterally, to individual requirement verifications and test plans. Limitations in CASE tool integration and team incorporation of new technologies are discussed.