Enterprise Infrastructure Support for Agility

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This paper describes how an Enterprise infrastructure is supporting agility on two ARPA initiatives namely, RASSP (Rapid prototyping of Application Specific Signal Processors), and AM3 (Affordable Multi-Missile Manufacturing). The two programs involve several large enterprises linked electronically to form virtual enterprises and aiming to address the issues raised by the constantly changing defense environment. The paper describes the infrastructure needs of such virtual enterprises, the existing infrastructures being used, and the technology gaps that need to be filled to support those needs. Core concepts of the RASSP Enterprise System include integration of tools and tool frameworks into an enterprise environment; program execution control through workflows; integrated data management functions; design reuse; concurrent engineering team support; and integration of design engineering and manufacturing. INTRODUCTION The competitive business climate and decline in the defense budget have forced defense contractors toward agile design and manufacturing approaches supported by agile, enterprise-wide infrastructures. Lockheed Martin Corporation is involved in the development of an enterprise system approach for use in the development of affordable missile systems. Three ARPA/Tri-Service programs support these efforts: The AM3 (Affordable Multi-Missile Manufacturing) program uses the results of the RASSP (Rapid prototyping of Application Specific Signal Processors) program and the AIMS (Agile Infrastructure for Manufacturing Systems) program to develop a methodology and enterprise infrastructure; the goal is to save 25-50% across the missile portfolio. These programs are examples of virtual enterprises consisting of several organizations. The AM3/RASSP Enterprise System provides key automation support for teams of signal-processing/missile-design engineers in execution of complex development projects, thereby facilitating greatly improved productivity and efficient program control and orderly management of design configurations. Core concepts of the RASSP [3] enterprise system include integration of tools and tool frameworks into an enterprise environment, program execution control through workflows, integrated product information management functions, concurrent engineering team support, a reuse system, and integration of design engineering and manufacturing. This paper presents a strategy for use of the RASSP environment, methodology/ workflows, and information models to improve agility of signal-processor development and missile-seeker manufacturing projects.