Operations and support costs can be 70 percent of program Life-Cycle Costs (LCC), and to a large degree will be determined by the Critical Design Review timeframe. A program's operational costs are driven by design characteristics, and program features and characteristics. This paper focuses on the optimization of design characteristics by using a Design for Operations (DfO) processes combined with Lean Six Sigma (L6S) enabling tools. The purpose of designing a lunar lander, or any system, with operations in mind is to identify the LCC drivers early enough in the design process to be able to affect not just development costs, but the total costs over the life-cycle of the program. By employing effective "User-Developer-Operator" relationships combined with a sound DfO process, design trades can be made that will ensure an efficient program that can be supported throughout the lunar exploration life-cycle.
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