A System Dynamics Model of Government Engineering Support During the Development Phase of a Military Acquisition Program

摘要

Due to the increase of system complexity and the existing draw down of manpower allocations, today's acquisitions environment desperately needs a systems approach to decision making. Many studies have been performed to model the entire government acquisition environment. Due to the high degree of aggregation, front line decision makers have had no use for the information these models provide. This research focuses on the Air Force's largest functional support element in aircraft systems development, engineering. I will only consider one phase of the government acquisition cycle the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD). This is the development cycle, which begins with initial contract award (Milestone II), through the production approval (Milestone III). This model is a building block to ultimately help leaders determine the required skill-set and manpower to perform activities which can meet short term requirements while minimizing the intrinsic cost, schedule, and performance risks associated system development. The simulation presented will be used by the as an alternative decision making tool for manpower allocations for government organic engineering workforce during an eight year development effort.