System Design Trade Studies: The Engineering Process and Use of Human Resources Data.
Abstract
The engineering trade study process was investigated to determine the feasibility of including human resources data in trade studies. First, sixty one completed trade studies from actual McDonnell Douglas Corporation aeronautical, missile, and command and control systems were analyzed to determine the characteristics of system design trade studies. Four simulated trade studies containing engineering and human resources data and representing flight control and avionics subsystems then were constructed for experimental use. Seventy two experienced design engineers performed the simulated trade studies. It was found that engineers can and do use human resources data in system design trade studies. Personnel costa and quantities are assigned more weighting in the trade studies than skill types, skill levels and availability of personnel. A detailed presentation of human resources data is given more weighting than is a very condensed presentation. Such data should be presented in tabular form, in quantitative fashion and in units familiar to the engineer to be most useful. The four major sources of variability in trade study results were found to be choice of parameters, weighting factors for the parameters, methods of normalizing the parametric data, and methods of combining parametric data and weighting factors. Air Force standardization of trade study methods is recommended to help overcome this variability. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0732201
Entities
People
- Larry M. Lintz
- Wayne J. Lott
- William B. Askren