Download or read book Acquisition Reform written by Michael T. Sullivan and published by . This book was released on 2015-04-03 with total page 55 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Department of Defense (DOD) has repeatedly delivered the most capable weapon systems in the world, but with consistent schedule delays and at significant cost to taxpayers. One factor in this inefficient process is the significant time and effort required to complete information requirements before an acquisition program can proceed through a milestone to the next phase in the weapon system acquisition process. DOD has long sought to improve the efficiency of this process. This report examines (1) the effort and value involved in the preparation for a milestone decision; (2) factors that influence the time needed to complete the milestone decision process; and (3) alternative processes used by some DOD programs and leading commercial firms. Figures. This is a print on demand report.
Download or read book Acquisition Reform written by United States Government Accountability Office and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-10-05 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DOD has long sought to improve the efficiency of its weapon system acquisition process, including the time and effort needed to complete the milestone decision process. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 mandated GAO to review DOD's weapon system acquisition process. This report examines (1) the effort and value involved in the preparation for a milestone decision; (2) factors that influence the time needed to complete the milestone decision process; and (3) alternative processes used by some DOD programs and leading commercial firms. To perform this work, GAO examined the levels of review and information requirements that are part of DOD's process. GAO surveyed 24 program managers and 40 other DOD officials on the value and the time to complete milestone documentation. For 15 program offices, we gathered data on the time to complete the entire milestone decision process. GAO discussed with DOD officials the factors that lead to inefficiencies. GAO also examined practices used by some classified DOD programs and five commercial firms generally recognized as leaders in product development.
Download or read book DOD Should Streamline Its Decision Making Process for Weapon Systems to Reduce Inefficiencies written by United States Government Accountability and published by Createspace Independent Pub. This book was released on 2015-03-04 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Department of Defense (DOD) has repeatedly delivered the most capable weapon systems in the world, but with consistent schedule delays and at significant cost to taxpayers. The process used to manage the acquisition of these systems has been characterized by organizations both internal and external to DOD as one that is inefficient, cumbersome, and bureaucratic.1 A contributing factor to this inefficient process is the significant time and effort required to complete information requirements before an acquisition program can proceed through a milestone to the next phase in the weapon system acquisition process. DOD leadership has acknowledged that too much time is invested in preparing for key milestones, including the documentation and oversight of information required by statutes and policy,2 which takes time away from conducting day-to-day core program management tasks such as contractor oversight, engineering, and risk management. There is a natural tension between oversight and accountability on one hand and efficient program management on the other. Oversight and accountability add process, which is justifiable given the high cost and risk associated with major weapons and the inherent incentives for program managers and contractors to be optimistic about what they can accomplish. The additional process does come at a cost of time and other resources that a program manager could potentially employ better. If it were clearly demonstrable that program cost and schedule outcomes have improved as oversight has intensified, then the additional process would be easy to accept. But, as we have reported over the years, program outcomes have not significantly improved. Thus, it is an appropriate time to assess the value of the documents and reviews demanded of today's acquisition process. We are not suggesting that individual actions to improve oversight were not justifiable, but rather questioning whether their cumulative demand is in balance with their desired effects. According to federal internal control standards, agencies should develop effective and efficient processes to ensure that actions are taken to address requirements, such as in this case, completing the information required to aid in milestone decisions.3 DOD has embarked on some initiatives aimed at streamlining different aspects of its weapon system acquisition process, but acknowledges more needs to be done. In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, Congress mandated that GAO review DOD's weapon systems acquisition process, with an objective of identifying processes or procedures with little or no value added.4 This report examines (1) the effort and value involved in DOD's preparation for a milestone decision, (2) the factors that influence the time needed to complete the milestone decision process, and (3) alternative processes used by some DOD programs and leading commercial firms.
Download or read book Acquisition Reform written by U S Government Accountability Offi Gao and published by . This book was released on 2019-06-20 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ACQUISITION REFORM: DOD Should Streamline Its Decision-Making Process for Weapon Systems to Reduce Inefficiencies
Download or read book Best Practices written by Michael Sullivan and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2010-08 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cost growth and schedule delays are prevalent problems in acquiring defense weapon systems. Manufacturing systems has proven difficult, particularly as programs transition to production. In Dec. 2008, DoD issued an updated version of its acquisition policy that reflects earlier consideration of manufacturing risks. A joint defense and industry group developed manufacturing readiness levels (MRL) to support assessments of manufacturing risks. This report assesses the manufacturing problems faced by DoD, how MRLs can address manufacturing problems, how MRLs compare to manufacturing best practices of leading commercial firms, and challenges and barriers to implementing MRLs at DoD. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions written by Michael J. Sullivan and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2010-03 with total page 41 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DoD weapon programs often experience significant cost and schedule problems because they are allowed to start with too many technical unknowns and not enough knowledge about the development and production risks they entail. This report reviews DoD's Analysis of Alternatives (AOA) process -- intended to assess the operational effectiveness, costs, and risks of alternative weapon system solutions. This report: (1) examines whether AOAs have been effective in identifying the most promising options and providing a sound rationale for weapon program initiation; (2) determines what factors have affected the scope and quality of AOAs; and (3) assesses whether recent DoD policy changes will enhance the effectiveness of AOAs. Illus.
Download or read book Weapons Acquisition written by U S Government Accountability Office (G and published by BiblioGov. This book was released on 2013-07 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) use of low-rate initial production (LRIP) in its systems acquisition programs, focusing on whether: (1) DOD LRIP practices result in the production of adequate systems; and (2) the legislation underlying LRIP policies is adequate. GAO found that: (1) despite congressional emphasis on the need for operational test and evaluation (OT&E) prior to system production, legislation and DOD policies permit LRIP to start before any OT&E is conducted because there are no specific guidelines on the type and amount of testing required prior to LRIP; (2) the lack of guidelines has resulted in substantial inventories of unsatisfactory weapons that need costly modifications and some deployments of substandard systems to combat forces; (3) correction of system deficiencies in prematurely produced systems lengthens production schedules and increases resource consumption; (4) major production decisions are often made during LRIP; (5) LRIP severely limits Congress' and DOD decisionmakers' options for dealing with deficient systems; (6) DOD needs accurate, independent information on system performance and suitability to minimize the risks of procuring costly and ineffective systems; and (7) in light of the current national security environment, there should not be an urgent need to start LRIP before system capabilities are adequately tested.
Download or read book Defense Acquisitions written by U S Government Accountability Office (G and published by BiblioGov. This book was released on 2013-06 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Department of Defense (DOD) is embarking on a number of efforts to enhance warfighting and the way the department conducts business. Major investments are being made to develop improved weapon systems to combat various threats to U.S. security. While the weapons that DOD ultimately develops have no rival in superiority, weapon systems acquisition remains a long-standing high-risk area. GAO's reviews over the past 30 years have found consistent problems with weapon acquisitions such as cost increases, schedule delays, and performance shortfalls. In addition, DOD faces several budgetary challenges that underscore the need to deliver its new major weapon programs within estimated costs and to obtain the most from those investments. DOD can help resolve these problems by using a more knowledge-based approach for developing new weapons. This report provides congressional and DOD decision makers with an independent, knowledge-based assessment of selected defense programs that identifies potential risks and needed actions when a program's projected attainment of knowledge diverges from the best practice. It can also highlight those programs that employ practices worthy of emulation by other programs. GAO plans to update and issue this report annually.
Download or read book Best Practices written by Michael Sullivan and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-05 with total page 61 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Compares quality mgmt. practices used by the DoD & its contractors to those used by leading commercial co¿s. & made suggestions for improvement. The report: determined the impact of quality problems on selected weapon systems & prime contractor practices that contributed to the problems; identified commercial practices that can be used to improve DoD weapon systems; identified problems that DoD must overcome; & identified recent DoD initiatives that could improve quality. The author examined 11 DoD weapon systems with known quality problems & met with quality officials from DoD, defense prime contractors, & 5 leading commercial co¿s. that produce complex products &/or are recognized for quality products. Illus.
Download or read book Reduced Dept of Defense Product Development Time written by Ross Theodore McNutt and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Weapons Systems Annual Assessment and Cybersecurity written by Dale R. Copley and published by Nova Snova. This book was released on 2019-05-03 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DOD acquires new weapons for its warfighters through a management process known as the Defense Acquisition System. Chapter 1 contains GAOs 16th annual assessment of the Department of Defenses (DOD) $1.66 trillion portfolio of 86 major weapon systems acquisition programs. It examines changes in the portfolio since 2016, including DODs progress implementing acquisition reforms. The Department of Defense (DOD) faces mounting challenges in protecting its weapon systems from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Chapter 2 addresses (1) factors that contribute to the current state of DOD weapon systems cybersecurity, (2) vulnerabilities in weapons that are under development, and (3) steps DOD is taking to develop more cyber resilient weapon systems.
Download or read book Strategies for Acquisition Agility written by Philip S. Anton and published by . This book was released on 2020-08-27 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The authors analyze various approaches to speed acquisition of military capabilities and keep pace with evolving threats, assess these approaches' suitability for different conditions and acquisition types, and identify implementation issues.
Download or read book Weapon System Requirements written by United States. Government Accountability Office and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-07-19 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: " Cost and schedule growth in DOD major defense acquisition programs persist, and some acquisition reform proponents believe such growth is due to unplanned changes in program requirements (commonly referred to as ""requirements creep""). GAO found in June 2015 that cost and schedule growth are often more directly related to a lack of systems engineering, which, if done, would reduce risk by introducing discipline and rigor into the process of defining and understanding a program's initial requirements. House Armed Services Committee Report 114-102 contained a provision for GAO to review the DOD requirements process. This report (1) identifies a framework for assessing the challenge posed by weapon system requirements and the extent of systems engineering done before product development begins; (2) illustrates the relationship between systems engineering and program outcomes; and (3) assesses implications for program oversight. GAO analyzed a non-generalizable sample of nine case studies. GAO assessed the extent to which systems engineering was conducted before development by reviewing program requirements and analyzing cost and schedule documentation for each case study. GAO also reviewed prior GAO work and interviewed DOD officials. "
Download or read book Best Practices Increased Focus on Requirements and Oversight Needed to Improve DOD s Acquisition Environment and Weapon System Quality written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Senate report related to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 asked GAO to compare quality management practices used by the Department of Defense (DOD) and its contractors to those used by leading commercial companies and make suggestions for improvement. To do this, GAO (1) determined the impact of quality problems on selected weapon systems and prime contractor practices that contributed to the problems; (2) identified commercial practices that can be used to improve DOD weapon systems; (3) identified problems that DOD must overcome; and (4) identified recent DOD initiatives that could improve quality. GAO examined 11 DOD weapon systems with known quality problems and met with quality officials from DOD, defense prime contractors, and five leading commercial companies that produce complex products and/or are recognized for quality products.
Download or read book Best Practices written by United States. Government Accountability Office and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 69 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cost growth and schedule delays are prevalent problems in acquiring defense weapon systems. Manufacturing systems has proven difficult, particularly as programs transition to production. In December 2008, the Department of Defense (DOD) issued an updated version of its acquisition policy that reflects earlier consideration of manufacturing risks. A joint defense and industry group developed manufacturing readiness levels (MRL) to support assessments of manufacturing risks. Use of MRLs on all weapon acquisition programs has been proposed. In response to a congressional request, this report assesses the manufacturing problems faced by DOD, how MRLs can address manufacturing problems, how MRLs compare to manufacturing best practices of leading commercial firms, and challenges and barriers to implementing MRLs at DOD. In conducting our work, we contacted DOD, military services, and contractors; held interviews with leading commercial firms; reviewed program documents and policy proposals; and spoke with manufacturing experts. GAO recommends that the Secretary of Defense require the use of MRLs across DOD programs, strengthen the MRL criteria (process control) for production start, assess the need for tools, and assess the manufacturing workforce to address knowledge gaps. DOD partially concurred with the first recommendation, and concurred with the other three.
Download or read book Best Practices written by and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book What are the Relevant Key Factors to be Used During the Decision Making Process for Acquiring a New Weapon System Vs Modernizing an Existing One written by Ubaldo Serino and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 29 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
