System architecture for a military weapon system development process to integrate design and the manufacturing process for use by a government technical development agency

Abstract

This thesis integrates Concurrent Engineering (CE) or Design for Manufacturability into a government research and development agency. For new weapon concepts originating within government, CE is difficult to apply effectively within the policies and bureaucratic structures. This project describes a proposed structure for a development agency, using fuzes and the U.S. Army Fuze Division as a basis. Although the Fuze Division’s application of CE to date has been effective, much potential remains unreachable due to the Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition policy, with its series of incremental design phases. The proposed organization is arranged in teams according to professional/ engineering specialty. In addition, manufacturing engineering and fuze systems engineering groups are introduced. Integrated Product Teams managed by a member of the systems engineering group would draw from each of the specialized groups. This project illustrates that an agency can be organized to support and promote effective concurrent engineering within the limitations of the DOD acquisition policy. With this structure, manufacturing considerations will be deliberately integrated into every new fuze design, at all design phases. Although current policy may not allow skipping a phase, the Milestone B fuze will now be functionally operational and manufacturable, greatly reducing the design work remaining for Milestone C.