Download or read book Weapon System Costing Methodology Improved Structural Cost Analysis written by R. E. Kenyon and published by . This book was released on 1977 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report describes a study to improve a previously developed weapon system costing methodology for aircraft airframes and basic structures under Contract F33615-72-C-2083. The methodology is part of a preliminary design level technique for the cost estimation flight vehicle structures. Applications of the method have indicated a number of areas where further study and development could be expected to provide an advanced state-of-the-art capability. This study was directed towards that end. The study was limited to the specific changes consisting of (1) development of complexity factors for technologies and materials represented by the advanced strategic bomber wing carry-through box, (2) modification of raw material cost estimating relationships (CERs) to increase sensitivity to material product form and type of scrappage, (3) investigation of additional assembly techniques and adding or modifying corresponding cost estimating factors, (4) modification of existing CERs to include evaluation of variations in the degree of commonality involved, (5) determination of the effect of production rate on recurring production costs, and (6) determination of the variation in learning curve factors due to variation in the type of material or type of construction. Detailed results are described. (Author).

Download or read book Weapon System Costing Methodology for Aircraft Airframes and Basic Structures Volume I Technical Volume written by R. E. Kenyon and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides a detailed description of the function and use of two weapon system costing methodologies for aircraft airframes and basic structures developed for the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory for use in conceptual and preliminary designs phases of weapon system development. The methods are a trade study costing method for detailed cost analysis of trades-off between weight, cost, type of construction and type of material and a system costing method for determining the projected cost of a complete airframe within the context of a weapon system development. This volume provides a technical discussion of method development. Tradeoff capability has been provided for a range of alternative structure and material combinations. A technique for independently assessing complexity factors has been developed and demonstrated. Manufacturing costs are separately estimated for the primary elements of substructure: ribs, spars, covers, leading edges, trailing edges, tips, etc. The trade study method provides an iterative capability stemming from a direct interface with design synthesis programs. A detailed cost data base and system for data expansion is provided. The methods are designed for ease in changing cost estimating relationships and estimating coefficients resulting from cost data update. (Author).

Download or read book Defense Management DOD Needs Better Information and Guidance to More Effectively Manage and Reduce Operating and Support Costs of Major Weapon Systems written by United States. Government Accountability Office and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2010 with total page 73 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Report examining growth in operating and support (O&S) costs of major DOD weapons systems, and identifying measures to improve DOD ability to manage and reduce O&S costs of weapons systems over their life cycle.

Download or read book Historical Cost Growth of Completed Weapon System Programs written by Mark V. Arena and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 2006 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report is one of a series from a RAND Project AIR FORCE project, "The Cost of Future Military Aircraft: Historical Cost Estimating Relationships and Cost Reduction Initiatives." The purpose of the project is to improve the tools used to estimate the costs of future weapon systems. It focuses on how recent technical, management, and government policy changes affect cost. This report focuses on the accuracy of cost estimates. For our analysis, we used a very specific sample of Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) data, namely only programs that are complete or are nearly so. The analysis indicates a systematic bias toward underestimating the costs and substantial uncertainty in estimating the final cost of a weapon system. In contrast to the previous literature, the cost growth was higher than previously observed. We also found few correlations with cost growth, but observed that programs with longer duration had greater cost growth and electronics programs tended to have lower cost growth. Although there were some differences in the mean cost growth factors among the military departments, the differences were not statistically significant. While newer programs appear to have lower cost growth, this trend appears to be due to factors other than acquisition policies.

Download or read book DOD Needs to Provide More Credible Weapon Systems Cost Estimates to the Congress written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Weapon System Costing Methodology for Aircraft Airframes and Basic Structures Volume II Estimating Handbook and User s Manual written by R. E. Kenyon and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 283 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides a detailed description of the function and use of two weapon system costing methodologies for aircraft airframes and basic structures developed for the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory for use in conceptual and preliminary designs phases of weapon system development. The methods are a trade study costing method for detailed cost analysis of trades-off between weight, cost, type of construction and type of material and a system costing method for determining the projected cost of a complete airframe within the context of a weapon system development. This volume describes how to make an estimate using either technique and shows the results of a demonstration case. Tradeoff capability has been provided for a range of alternative structure and material combinations. A technique for independent assessing complexity factor has been developed and demonstrated. Manufacturing costs are separately estimated for the primary elements of substructure: ribs, spars, covers, leading edges, trailing edges, tips, etc. The trade study method provides an iterative capability stemming from a direct interface with design synthesis programs. A detailed cost data base and system for data expansion is provided. The methods are designed for ease in changing cost estimating relationships and estimating coefficients resulting from cost data update. (Author).

Download or read book Birth of a Profession written by Paul G. Hough and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Weapon System Costing Methodology for Aircraft Airframes and Basic Structures Volume II Estimating Handbook and User s Manual written by R. E. Kenyon and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides a detailed description of the function and use of two weapon system costing methodologies for aircraft airframes and basic structures developed for the Air Force Flight Dynamic Laboratory for use in conceptual and preliminary designs phases of weapon system development. The methods are a trade study costing method for detailed cost analysis of trades-off between weight, cost, type of construction and type of material and a system costing method for determing the projected cost of a complete airframe within the context of a weapon system development. This volume describes how to make an estimate using either technique and shows the results of a demonstration case. Tradeoff capability has been provided for a range of alternative structure and material combinations. A technique for independent assessing complexity factor has been developed and demonstrated. Manufacturing costs are separately estimated for the primary elements of substructure: ribs, spars, covers, leading edges, trailing edges, tips, etc. The trade study method provides an iterative capability stemming from a direct interface with design synthesis programs. A detailed cost data base and system for data expansion is provided. The methods are designed for ease in changing cost estimating relationships and estimating coefficients resulting from cost data update. (Author).

Download or read book Cost Analysis and Estimating written by Willis R., Jr. Greer and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Changes in production processes reflect the technological advances permeat ing our products and services. U. S. industry is modernizing and automating. In parallel, direct labor is fading as the primary cost driver while engineering and technology related cost elements loom ever larger. Traditional, labor-based ap proaches to estimating costs are losing their relevance. Old methods require aug mentation with new estimating tools and techniques that capture the emerging environment. This volume represents one of many responses to this challenge by the cost analysis profession. The Institute of Cost Analysis (lCA) is dedicated to improving the effective ness of cost and price analysis and enhancing the professional competence of its members. We encourage and promote exchange of research findings and appli cations between the academic community and cost professionals in industry and government. The 1990 National Meeting in Los Angeles, jointly spo~sored by ICA and the National Estimating Society (NES), provides such a forum. Presen tations will focus on new and improved tools and techniques of cost analysis. This volume is the second in a series. The first was produced in conjunction with the 1989 National Meeting of ICA/NES in Washington, D.C. The articles in this volume, all refereed, were selected from about 100 submitted for presen tation at the Los Angeles meeting.

Download or read book Weapon System Costing Methodology for Aircraft Airframes and Basic Structures Volume I Cost Methods Research and Development written by R. E. Kenyon and published by . This book was released on 1973 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report presents the interim results of a study aimed at extending cost estimating techniques developed and demonstrated under a previous contract. The previous study resulted in two separate estimating methods: a trade study and a system costing method. These methods provided two essential estimating capabilities: the capability of assessing the relative difference in the cost of the basic structures attributable to variations in type of construction and material in an iterative fashion to support tradeoff studies during the preliminary design process, and the capability of accurately estimating total airframe costs in manhours and materials for selected design while retaining sensitivity to type of material and construction. (Modified author abstract).

Download or read book Weapon System Costing Methodology for Aircraft Airframes and Basic Structures Volume II Supporting Design Synthesis Programs written by R. E. Kenyon and published by . This book was released on 1974 with total page 73 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume describes the supporting programs used in conjunction with a cost estimating program to provide a trade study cost estimating technique for aerodynamic surfaces. The supporting programs for the purpose of this discussion are defined as a structural synthesis program and a secondary structure synthesis program. The structural synthesis program is used for the analysis of primary structure and is called APAS (Automated Program for Aerospace-Vehicle Synthesis). The secondary structure synthesis program estimates geometry and weights, and performs parts definition for the aerodynamic surface leading edge, trailing edge, and tip components. The cost estimating adaptation is derived from programs originally developed under Independent research and development.

Download or read book An Analysis of Weapon System Cost Growth written by and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cost growth in weapon system development, one result of the inherent risk of developing advanced systems, has been a prevalent problem for many years. A systematic bias in cost estimates can undermine the basis of resource allocation decisions, an important problem in a tight budget environment. Currently DoD is in this situation. This exploratory research attempts to gain new insight into this old acquisition issue. In particular, our objectives were to quantify the magnitude of cost growth in weapon systems, and identify factors affecting cost growth. A better understanding of the scope of the cost growth problem would provide decisionmakers with an improved basis for mitigating cost growth. Insight into the drivers of cost growth might suggest policy alternatives appropriate to the goal of mitigating cost growth. This research uses a database composed of 197 major weapon systems reporting through the Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) process as of December 1990 to address these issues. While we have quantified the magnitude of weapon system cost growth along a number of dimensions, we could not definitively account for the observed cost growth patterns. Thus, no silver bullet policy option is available for mitigating cost growth.

Download or read book Weapon System Costing Methodology for Aircraft Airframes and Basic Structures Volume III Cost Data Base written by R. E. Kenyon and published by . This book was released on 1974 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume presents the cost data used as the basis for developing the trade cost estimating technique for aerodynamic surfaces. Other data that has become available in the course of the study is also presented. Raw data and organized data are presented. An ultimate objective of the study with respect to the cost data base is to present back-up data for each individual CER, including both trade study and system costing relationships. The cost trend data that is included was produced under an amendment to the contract. Its intent was to provide a data base for cost estimate evaluation. (Author).

Download or read book Is Weapon System Cost Growth Increasing written by Obaid Younossi and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 2007 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent decades, there have been numerous attempts to rein in the cost growth of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition programs. Cost growth is the ratio of the cost estimate reported in a program's final Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) and the cost-estimate baseline reported in a prior SAR issued at a particular milestone. Drawing on prior RAND research, new analyses of completed and ongoing weapon system programs, and data drawn from SARs, this study addresses the following questions: What is the cost growth of DoD weapon systems? What has been the trend of cost growth over the past three decades? To address the magnitude of cost growth, it examines cost growth in completed programs; to evaluate the cost growth trend over time, it provides additional analysis of a selection of ongoing programs. This sample of ongoing programs permits a look at growth trends in the more recent past. Changes in the mix of system types over time and dollar-weighted analysis were also considered because earlier studies have suggested that cost growth varies by program type and the cost of the program. The findings suggest that development cost growth over the past three decades has remained high and without any significant improvement.

Download or read book Aircraft System Operating and Support Costs written by Norman E Betaque (Jr) and published by . This book was released on 1977 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As weapon system life cycle costs have risen, DoD has placed new emphasis on examining the operating and support (O/S) cost impacts of planned new weapons and finding ways to reduce these costs. O/S cost analyses are now a major part of the cost review conducted at each weapon procurement decision meeting by the Defense Systems Acquisition and Review Committee (DSARC) and the Cost Analysis Improvement Group. This report recommends guidelines for preparing and presenting estimates of the support investment (SI) and O/S costs of fixed and rotary wing aircraft systems to DSARC. It provides a framework for objective comparison of SI and O/S costs of program, design, or support alternatives, using consistent methodologies and terminology. It also focuses on assessment of efforts to control downstream costs of weapon systems in the acquisition phase. A general methodology for SI and O/S cost-estimating is described, a standard cost element structure is defined, and specific requirements for presenting SI and O S cost estimates to DSARC are proposed. Standards for the presentation and documentation of those cost estimates are recommended.

Download or read book A Cost Analysis on Procuring Improved Technical Order Data for the F 15 Weapon System written by Robert W. Bennett (CAPT, USAF.) and published by . This book was released on 1978 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Systems Engineering and Program Management written by David E. Stem and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 2006 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Systems engineering and program management (SE/PM) constitute a large portion of the acquisition cost of military aircraft and guided weapons systems. The goal of this study was the development of a set of cost-estimating relationships that can be used to estimate the SE/PM cost element for development and production of aircraft and weapons programs. The authors canvassed government and industry personnel to learn about current techniques for estimating SE/PM costs, and they collected historical data from several aircraft and weapons programs to investigate trends in SE/PM costs over time and to generate methods that cost analysts can use early in the life cycle of a program when little cost information is available. The authors also investigated the effects on SE/PM costs from acquisition reform, including the reduction in the number of military specifications and standards, the use of integrated product and process teams, and the trend toward "evolutionary acquisition." This product is part of the RAND Corporation monograph series. RAND monographs present major research findings that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND monographs undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity. Book jacket.