Systems Engineering Challenges @ A Small Biz presented to the INCOSE Enchantment Chapter

1. Systems Engineering Challenges @ A Small Bizpresented to the INCOSE Enchantment Chapter Bob Pierson Applied Technology Associates (ATA) June 16, 2004

2. SETTING CONTEXT: WHO IS ATA? Established in 1975 • R&D Services Customers Include USAF, Sandia, Army, MDA, NASA, DOT, and DOC • Commercial Unit Sells Inertial Sensors/Actuators to Government and Commercial Customers • Approximately 60 Employees • 8(a) Certified Small Business Awards and Distinctions • Contractor Awards • 2004 SBA National Prime Contractor of the Year • USAF Small Business R&D • SBA Administrator’s Award • NM Governor’s VIVA Award • Technology Achievement Awards • AF Phillips Laboratory • SPIE – Relay Mirror Experiment • Technology Commercialization • 35 SBIR Contracts • 9 Patents Plus Several Pending • Angular Rate Sensors Products • Sensors Expo Best of Show

3. SETTING CONTEXT:BUSINESS AT ATA ATA Fundamental Research & Development (R&D), Test & Evaluation (T&E) Product Sales Product Development R&D Services Laser Metrology Optical IRU ATA Sensors Increasing Technology Readiness Level

4. SETTING CONTEXT:BUSINESS AT ATA ATA Fundamental Research & Development (R&D), Test & Evaluation (T&E) Product Sales Product Development R&D Services Laser Metrology Optical IRU ATA Sensors Proof-of-concept Systems, Modeling, Analysis, Test and Characterization State-of-the-art Performance Level Systems / Subsystems Custom Space-Qualified Subsystems / Assemblies “Off-the-shelf” Components Systems Components

5. PRIOR / EXISTING SE PRACTICE Optical IRU Development Motivates Integrated SE Approach aIRU (Advanced IRU) ABL IRTU Development & Test Production IRUs For Future NASA & DOD Systems NGIRU (Next Generation IRU) IPSRU Development & Test Late 1990’s MSTAR (MHD Stable Reference) 2006 Product Sales Product Development Fundamental Research & Development (R&D), Test & Evaluation (T&E) Formal Specification Formal Acceptance Vendor Qualification QA CM / DM Space Qual Level Test ISO 9000 (rigorous standards) MSA AIT V&V (but few standards) The Gap

6. Recent IRU Development Follows SE Methodology: Technical Requirements -> Technical Goals Doc Risk Assessment and Mitigation System Level Trade Studies Functional Allocation Flow-Down of Key Performance Requirements CURRENT SE PRACTICE

7. Current IRU Development Per SE Methodology: CURRENT SE PRACTICE V&V Plan System AI&T Plan Subsystem AI&T Plans Technical Goals V&V Complete System Spec System Test Subsystem Test Subsystem Specs Component Test Component Specs Fairly Standard “Vee” Diagram

8. PLENTY OF ISSUES!! • Standards & Right-Sizing • Initial fairly complete mapping to EIA 731 • Resource balancing is very difficult • Requirements / Goals Discovery (Systems & Products) • No one in this field knows what they want when they have to order it • Good customers & good teammates help immensely • Converging on a Design / Designs • Delayed decision points & concurrent engineering • Multiple interrelated designs • Corporate Level SE Support • Different business unit driving forces / biz models • SE helps in long term but absorbs key corporate resources NOW • Hats/People Ratio • Scale & Efficiency: if a $1B program has a lead SE, does a $10M program need 1/100 of a lead SE? • No one wears one hat in a a small biz • The lead systems engineer as chief cook & bottle washer • And There Just Isn’t Money to Go to Toulouse! Au Contraire!

9. HELP!! Where can INCOSE help the mSE to mSE business? What is the role of small biz in INCOSE? • Updated Standards • New SE Handbook V2a Has Been Great Help Already • Networking / Consulting • Sooo Hard to Find Good Help • Tools • What Works and is Cost Effective? • State Programs to Enhance Competitiveness? • Like Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program to subsidize ISO certification • Sympathy and Friendly Advice • “If you can’t do anything else: Normalize & Formalize” – Regina Gonzales, noble Enchantment Chapter president, 21.April.2004