THE LEVERAGE OF COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING TO DRIVE DOWN THE COST OF MILITARY HELICOPTER AVIONICS

Under contract to the Air Force, TRW has developed the methodology for enabling military avionics to be manufactured by a commercial supplier. The Industrial Base Pilot program has resulted in breakthroughs in business practices, design guidelines, and computer integrated manufacturing systems that make the production of selected military avionics products on a commercial line a reality. The outcome of this critical program will have dramatic impact on military helicopter programs by providing a cost effective means of providing advanced military electronics capability at an affordable price. This presentation will include the concept, genesis, and elements of the Industrial Base Pilot program and go into some level of detail in two key efforts. These more detailed subjects include the development of a commercial contract that can be used by a military contractor to gain greater access to the commercial manufacturing base; the methodology employed to redesign military electronics products, and the commercial manufacturing processes required to achieve the specified product performance along with a significant cost reduction. The presentation will conclude with a summary of the important ideas and concepts presented.