STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

摘要

Research Planning & Management within Bell Helicopter has three major components. First, technology roadmaps are aligned with customer's needs, detailing the technology gaps that must be closed to enable future products and capabilities. Secondly, a robust selection process ensures that annual research projects align with technology roadmaps and meet critical-to-satisfaction (CTS) metrics, as defined by the marketplace and various government entities. Finally, an earned-value metric system (EV-Lite) was implemented to optimize cost, schedule, and technical performance for research initiatives, which allows significant tactical agility during the year to realign and re-scope technology projects in an ever changing landscape. In short, Bell now has a process in place that ensures proper management of Research & Development (R&D) budgets, in order to develop and mature the right technologies, at the right time, and in support of the right platforms.