Why Some Weapon Systems Encounter Production Problems While others Do Not: Six Case Studies
Abstract
Experience has shown that new weapon systems regularly encounter great difficulties as they begin production, such as a high percentage of components that must be scrapped or reworked. These give rise to significant cost increases and schedule delays. Through an examination of six weapon system case studies, GAO found that such problems occur in programs where efforts to prepare weapons for production were insufficient. The six programs reviewed were the Army's Copperhead projectile and Black Hawk helicopter, the Navy's High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) and Tomahawk cruise missile, and the Air Force's F-16 fighter and Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM). GAO found further that technical performance concerns, program management and staff, and funding and quantity instability greatly influenced these preparations during the weapon's development. DOD has issued two directives which should improve production preparations in future programs. GAO makes recommendations on applying these directives to individual programs, to both improve production preparations and reduce the effects of other program influences on such preparations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 24, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA155451
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office