Concurrent Engineering: A New Paradigm

Abstract

Prior to the Mid-1950's the U.S. policy for the weapons systems acquisition was one based on quantitative superiority. We used that policy and our vast manufacturing capability to help win against the Axis powers. As we approached the 1960's the Defense Department implicitly de-emphasized quantitative superiority and stressed high technology 'qualitative superiority' as the new policy. This project is a study of how the shift to a qualitative superiority policy has negatively affected the U.S. weapons development process and how the implementation of a new engineering method can help to remedy the situation. 'Concurrent engineering is a systematic approach to the integrated, concurrent design of products and their related processes, including manufacture and support. This approach is intended to cause the developers, from the outset, to consider all elements of the product life cycle from conception through disposal, including quality, cost, schedule and user requirements.'

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 15, 1991
Accession Number
ADA237994

Entities

People

  • Timothy E. Neel

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Army Procurement
  • Classification
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Concurrent Engineering
  • Department Of Defense
  • Engineering
  • Governments
  • Life Cycles
  • Manufacturing
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Procurement
  • Product Development
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Economics
  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
  • Systems Analysis and Design