APPLICATION OF INTEGRATION READINESS LEVEL IN ASSESSING TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION RISKS IN A DOD ACQUISITION PROGRAM

Integration risk differentiates from other program risk in that it always involves interfaces between various systems or subsystems. The level of integration required is different depending on the phase of the Acquisition Life Cycle (i.e. Materiel Solution Analysis Phase, Technology Development Phase, Engineering and Manufacturing Development Phase, Production and Deployment Phase and Operation and Support Phase).

This paper focuses on the process used to assess the integration risks of integrating various technologies or subsystems into a vehicle platform. The process presented provides a step by step instruction on how to perform an integration risk assessment.

A new Integration Readiness Level (IRL) rating system has been developed by the TARDEC System Engineering and Integration Group to help acquisition vehicle programs as well as science and technology teams to evaluate the health of their technology or subsystem integration into their vehicles. The rating system is applicable to all phases of the program life cycle. Some of the key processes/tools for integration referenced in the IRL Table are discussed to better understand how the integration assessment can be performed.