An Analysis of the Impact of Integrated Weapon System Management (IWSM) Upon the Support Equipment Acquisition Process (Covering the Period From Submittal of Serd* Through the Preparation of the Statement of Work)
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of the implementation of Integrated Weapon System Management (IWSM) on the support equipment acquisition process. The literature search revealed that IWSM is the latest of many Air Force attempts to ensure all aspects of a weapon system's life cycle are considered when acquisition decisions are made. Areas of interest included organizational structure; inter-functional relationships; procedural changes; and procedural guidance and automated tools used. Two years after IWSM implementation, interviews were conducted with twenty-four people in various functional disciplines in four System Program Offices and included both Aerospace System Center (ASC) and Air Logistics Center (ALC) personnel. Although there were no significant changes in office structure, the use of the term Integrated Product Team to describe working groups had improved the inter- functional relationships and communication among offices. This shortened the time required to perform some steps of the process. The research found little or no common procedural guidance used among the SPOs, other than the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) for contracting. Also, SPO-unique software was in common use, instead of automated tools from the Acquisition Logistics Toolbox and Index. Integrated weapon system management, Integrated product development, Integrated product teams, Support equipment, Acquisition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA285007
Entities
People
- Betty J. Coronado
- Jane M. Kwiecinski
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology