Parts-on-Demand: Manufacturing Technology and Technology Transfer Assessment
Abstract
The objective of Parts on Demand (POD) is to reduce the Navy's spare parts supply, stocking, and procurement problems by creating new methods for manufacturing parts when needed. This study surveys the state of the art in programmable batch manufacturing and recommends strategies for bringing POD into being. Major study findings are: (1) The most critical problem in applying POD to the current parts inventory is the lack of technical data on the parts; (2) There are hundreds of thousands of potential POD parts; and (3) Existing and emerging manufacturing technology has much to offer this problem, but significant gaps were identified. Major recommendations are: (1) For future parts, a POD system should consist of: POD PARTS which are procured complete with manufacturing data packages; POD FACTORIES of different sizes and characteristics, each capable of making a class of POD parts; and POD DECISION LOGIC that handles make-buy and factory assignment decisions when orders are received. (2) For parts in the current inventory, the need is for REVERSE ENGINEERING CENTERS that can recreate parts for which complete data are not available. (3) For parts whose manufacture involves luck or art, research is needed to create quantitative and reproducible manufacturing methods.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA136581
Entities
People
- Cline W. Frasier
- Daniel E. Whitney
- James L. Nevins
- Stephen E. Deutsch
Organizations
- Charles Stark Draper Laboratory