C130 Hercules Acquisition Program: A Case Study of the Potential Impact of a System Level Warranty Application

摘要

This thesis was an attempt to assess the potential impact a systems level warranty could have had on the C-130 production contracts (over the last five years). Specifically, it sought to: (1) identify which types of Government changes or modifications could lead to warranty avoidance by the contractor and (2) attempted to determine what impact operational environments could have had on the C-130 (with a systems warranty). The literature review discusses the basic definition of a warranty and relevant litigation regarding warranty avoidance and breaches. Benefits from applying a system level warranty to the C-130 were identified to include: (1) Government notification (by the contractor) of new defects, (20 streamlined warranty claims during hostile operations, (3) increased reimbursements for Government repair, and (4) more definitized procedural instruction for the contractor. Conclusions drawn from the research centered around the need for written agreements to expand warranty coverage, length of warranty coverage, identifying warranty provisions during systems design, measurable and testable essential performance requirements, testing of proposed changes/modifications, increased need for extensive warranty administration and maintenance personnel awareness.