The Application of Design-to-Cost Acquisition Policies to Selected Electronics Subsystem Development Programs.

摘要

This report presents findings and conclusions resulting from a one-year study to observe, record, and analyze the Department of Defense (DoD) experience in applying Design-to-Cost (DTC) acquisition policies to electronics subsystems. Eleven DTC subsystems and three non-DTC subsystems, representing all three major Services and involving 27 industrial contractors, were investigated. Guidelines for future policy development resulting from the findings were recommended in the areas of DTC subsystem program planning, prediction of production costs and equipment performance, reliability improvement warranties, and subsystem management. These recommendations emphasized the importance of planning for DTC early in the development process and providing development time and funds, as necessary, to achieve production or life-cycle cost goals. Recommendations were also focused upon improving the production cost and performance estimating process, identifying risk areas for application of reliability improvement warranties, managing key subcontractors and vendors, and continuing analytic effects to derive DTC 'lessons learned' at the subsystem level.