Downloaded from https://www.everyspec.com MIL-HDBK-502: A MIL-HDBK-502: A CQUISITION CQUISITION L OGISTICS OGISTICS Correct deficiencies identified during Phase II test and evaluation activities and low-rate initial production. Produce and deploy a total system. Support activities respond to changes resulting from correction of noted deficiencies and other product baseline changes made to enhance producibility or otherwise improve the product. Additionally, they prepare for transition of the system to operations. Phase III is used to achieve and sustain an operational capability that satisfies mission needs.
The footprint, size, and weight of the system and its logistic support are major considerations for contingency planners. Deploying the total system is very important and needs to be emphasized. The lift requirements and the logistics tail must be kept to a minimum. Operational needs will change over time due to product hardware modifications and aging, the emergence of new threats, changes in the support system capabilities, the introduction of new technologies, and changing economic conditions. Plans are established to monitor the rate and consequence of change on the total system supportability.
4.3 SYSTEMS ENGINEERING Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary approach to evolve and verify an integrated and life-cycle balanced set of product and processes solutions that satisfy stated customer needs. A total system design would include product hardware, software, and planned logistics resources. This structured, or process, approach integrates the essential elements and design decisions of three interrelated design efforts. The result is a balanced, total system solution to the operational need and other program objectives.
The systems engineering process is used within the Department of Defense to translate operational users’ needs into requirements and requirements into designs which meet program performance, cost, and schedule requirements. Figure 4-3 provides an overview of the process. The systems engineering process follows a logical top-down progression of design refinement. It employs an iterative process in which operational requirements are translated into performance requirements for the functional elements of a system. Design alternatives for each of the system’s functional elements are identified and analyzed.
The results are used to select the best combination of element designs to achieve the system objective. Performance requirements are refined based upon the selected alternatives, and the updated requirements are further decomposed to the next level of performance function. Once again alternatives are identified and analyzed, and the process is repeated. 4-12