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With a more global market, manufacturing companies have to increase their focus on cost management to stay competitive. With new technologies available, new methods of evaluating concepts and ideas arise. Among these are simulation tools. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate how simulation tools can be integrated into the product development process to improve target costing. To achieve this purpose, a case study was conducted at a large manufacturing company, where a simulation tool was used. It was found that cost and manufacturing simulation tools can be used for target costing, negotiation with suppliers, as well as a helpful tool for design methods such as design for manufacturing and design to cost. Furthermore, cross-functional teams and good collaboration are a postulate for successful implementation and utilization of simulation tools in the product development process. The proposition is therefore that large manufacturing companies with advantage should implement cost and manufacturing simulation tools into their product development process to improve target costing., Med en mer global marknad måste tillverkningsföretag öka sitt fokus på kostnadshantering för att förbli konkurrenskraftiga. Med ny teknik tillgänglig uppstår nya metoder för att utvärdera koncept och idéer. Bland dessa finns simuleringsverktyg. Syftet med denna studie är därför att undersöka hur simuleringsverktyg kan integreras i produktutvecklingsprocessen för att förbättra arbetet med målkostnader. För att uppnå detta syfte genomfördes en fallstudie på ett stort tillverkningsföretag där ett simuleringsverktyg användes. Det upptäcktes att kostnads- och tillverkningssimuleringsverktyg kan användas för målkostnadsberäkning, förhandlingar med leverantörer, samt att det kan vara ett användbart verktyg för designmetoder såsom design for manufacturing och design to cost. Vidare är tvärfunktionella team och gott samarbete en förutsättning för en framgångsrik implementering och användning av simuleringsverktyg i produktutvecklingsprocessen. Därför bör stora tillverkningsföretag med fördel implementera kostnads- och tillverkningssimuleringsverktyg i sin produktutvecklingsprocess för att förbättraarbetet med målkostnader.

Under de senaste decennierna har hantering av leverantörsrelationer blivit en viktig konkurrensfaktor för företag världen över. Denna uppsats kommer delvis att presentera teorin bakom hantering av leverantörsrelationer och integrera den med värdesamskapande vilket är ytterligare en viktig aspekt för företag som önskar att implementera ett vinn-vinn-tänk med sina samarbetspartners. Studien har genomförts på inköpsavdelningen på Valmet i Karlstad med syfte att identifiera vad som är värdeskapande i ett leverantörsförhållande. Den empiriska datan har analyserats för att sedan omvandlas till aktiviteter som kan appliceras i ett tidigt skede av en produkt/projektcykel. Detta leder in på Design to Cost vilket utgör den tredje och sista grunden för litteraturstudien av detta arbete. Denna studie inleddes med en litteraturstudie, med fokus på de tre huvudämnena; hantering av leverantörsrelationer, värdesamskapande och Design to Cost. Denna studie sammanställdes sedan i ett teoretiskt ramverk som följdes upp med en kvalitativ datainsamling. Semistrukturerade intervjuer användes under två olika delar av studien, först intervjuades anställda på Valmet i Karlstad och därefter företagets leverantörer. Under analysen jämfördes insamlad data med det teoretiska ramverket. Resultaten visar att värdesamskapande i studiens kontext främst bygger på kommunikation och tillit. Det är också viktigt att veta i vilken fas involveringen av leverantörer bör uppnås. Eftersom det här är en studie som fokuserar på Design to Cost, rekommenderas det att involvera leverantörerna i ett tidigt skede. Som ett resultat ökar antalet möjligheter och samarbetet är mindre begränsat av tekniska designbeslut etc. De identifierade aktiviteterna från analysen har prioriterats i en matris och en rekommendation har skapats delvis till Valmet, men också till liknande branscher. Eftersom resultatet bygger på empirisk data analyserad ur ett teoretiskt perspektiv, kan det därför motiveras att lösningarna är gen, In recent decades supply relationship management have become a competitive factor for companies worldwide. This master thesis will partly address the theory of supply relationship management and integrate it with value co-creation, which is an additional important aspect for companies wanting to implement a win-win thinking with their collaborative partners. The study have been conducted at the purchasing department at Valmet in Karlstad with the purpose of identifying value creation in a supplier relationship. The empirical data have been analyzed to represent activities that can be applied in an early stage of a product/project cycle. This leads to Design to Cost, which constitutes the third and last foundation for the literature study of this work. This study started with a literature review, focusing on the three main subjects; supply relationship management, value co-creation and Design to Cost. This review was then concluded by a theoretical framework and followed up with a qualitative data collection. Semi-structured interviews were used in two different parts of the study, first with employees at Valmet in Karlstad and then with their suppliers. During the analysis the data was compared to the established theoretical framework. The results show that value co-creating in the study's context is based foremost on communication and trust. It is also important to know at what phase the involvement should be accomplished. As this is a study focusing on Design to Cost it is recommended to involve the suppliers at an early stage. As a result more opportunities are given and the cooperation is less restrained by any technical design decisions etc. The identified activities from the analysis have been prioritized and a recommendation have been created partly to Valmet, but also to similar industries. As the result is based on empirical data analyzed from a theoretical perspective, it can therefore be justified that the solutions are general to a certain extent a

The goal of this thesis is to investigate the effects of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signal versus a linear frequency modulated or chirp signal on simulated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. Various parameters of the transmitted signal, such as pulse duration, transmitted signal energy, bandwidth, and (specifically for the OFDM signal) number of subcarriers and transmission scheme were examined to determine which parameters are most important to reconstructing a SAR image. Matched filtering and interpolation are two techniques used to reconstruct the SAR image. SAR systems are used in various military and civilian sector applications. Some SAR application examples include ground surveillance, reconnaissance and remote sensing. These applications demand high resolution imagery; therefore, knowledge of exactly which parameters of the transmitted radar signal are more important in producing fine resolution imagery is worth investigating. This research will also aid in providing flexibility in terms of what type of signal and signal parameters are best suited for a particular SAR application and associated military missions. In addition to improving the method attaining high resolution images, SAR process improvement can potentially reduce military SAR system design cost.

In his Better Buying Power memorandum, the under secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) told us: We must therefore strive to achieve what economists call productivity growth: in simple terms, to DO MORE WITHOUT MORE. He outlined several ways to accomplish that goal, which is not an easy one. We offer examples of successful implementation from defense acquisitions we have worked. Some might be appropriate for an effort you are pursuing, and others not. Ultimately, you need to be flexible in pursuing the art of the possible. As you do so, we offer a suggestion: get industry partners involved early. They can provide many innovative suggestions. And ultimately, they will be responsible for making your program a success. So let's start at the beginning of the memorandum and work toward the back. We won't be stopping everywhere; there's not enough space in a single article to do so., Published in Defense AT&L Magazine (Special Issue: Better Buying Power), v40 n5 p55-58, September-October 2011.

This work details a comparative analysis of six methods for computing the transient system response and adjoint design derivatives of a nonlinear structure under a periodic external actuation. Time marching via implicit integration, a time-periodic spectral element method, and a time-periodic cyclic-implicit method are all considered, each with or without POD-based model reduction of the system of equations. Details of each method, and the concomitant adjoint sensitivities, are provided in terms of accuracy, stability, and Jacobian topology (sparsity). Each method is used for a gradient-based optimization of a nonlinear planar beam, periodically actuated at its root, subject to a large number of structural design parameters. The method with lowest computational design cost is found to be a strong function of the harmonic content and the nonlinearity of the transient response, as well as the size (i.e., mesh density) of the finite element system., In-house contract.

The "adaptive" deployment of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in coastal waters is expected to form a large part of future Navy operations. To prepare for this, the Adaptive Sampling and Prediction (ASAP) team is charged with developing and investigating methods to direct and utilize such vehicles, in order to assimilate their data into numerical ocean models and predict future conditions as accurately as possible. The long-term goal of the PI is to work with the ASAP team to provide a reliable and relocatable ensemble modeling and adaptive sampling framework, from which informed decisions on deployment of AUVs can be made rapidly. In the future, the methodology could be used to ask advanced questions on optimal, cost-efficient design of sensors and platforms, in conjunction with glider/AUV planning software, survey error metrics etc., code 1 only. The original document contains color images.

Presented at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Microsystems Technology Symposium held in San Jose, California on 5-7 March 2007. Document contains briefing charts only. The original document contains color images.

This study's purpose is to determine if using green building design would have resulted in life cycle costs savings for the United States Air Force. Green designs are those that employ steps to mitigate the impacts facilities have on the environment by using resources more efficiently than conventional design. The prevailing ranking system for green design in the United States is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) which evaluates facilities on certain characteristics, assigning certain point values that translate to non-certified, certified, silver, gold, or platinum ratings. The author attempts here to show how previous studies indicated the presence of construction cost premiums, savings in operating costs and environmental benefits from green design. The literature review also shows the extent the Air Force and Department of Defense have incorporated green building standards into current policy. After performing an analysis of Air Force building data, this study suggests that deciding to build green would not pay for itself based off of energy and environmental benefits alone., The original document contains color images.

Buildings are one of the largest consumers of natural resources, a major source of ecological pollution, and occasionally toxic to human health. Sustainable design is the common term associated with buildings which, during their construction, use, and eventual disposal, seek to minimize their negative impact on the environment and human health. The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system helps to assess a building's sustainability level. In the Federal Government's push to set the example for the rest of the nation, nearly every Federal Agency has chosen to adopt the LEED assessment tool. Each of the Armed Services in the Department of Defense (DoD) has set ambitious LEED certification goals. Despite their stated goals and the clear environmental and health benefits of LEED, a common concern is that LEED-designed buildings are simply too costly to construct. However, many proponents profess that LEED-designed buildings shouldn't cost significantly more than conventionally designed and constructed buildings and that the operational life-cycle cost savings rapidly compensate for any additional initial costs. Unfortunately, no comprehensive studies on initial construction costs have been performed in the DoD. Therefore, it continues to be the primary source of unit-level resistance to LEED and sustainable design. This research gathered historical cost data from 22 completed Federal construction projects and used statistical analysis to explore whether a business case could be made to support LEED using initial construction costs in the DoD. Results from the analysis were mixed. Hypothesis testing deemed there was no statistical difference in cost between LEED and conventionally designed facility construction. While on average LEED buildings were only 1.9% more expensive to construct than conventional facilities, the 9.2% standard deviation made it difficult to make a favorable business case. (94 refs.), The original document contains color images.

The integration of cost evaluations into the design process, i.e., making them in situ, requires a strategic cost evaluation framework. This framework must address three key components: (1) the processes by which design and cost evaluations are performed, (2) the methodologies/technologies (M/T) that are needed in order to effectively carry out these processes, and more specifically, (3) the way cost models are used, reused, and managed. In order to design in affordability early in design, engineering tools, including cost assessment tools, must be integrated into the design process and interact with tools that support other types of but related, analyses. Insertion of these technologies requires an understanding of the design, requirements, and cost-estimation processes. Therefore, definition of these key processes, and the relationships among the processes, are essential for defining and developing an integrated support tool to enhance these processes. There are many M/T available and being developed to support cost evaluations during design; however, they are not a part of an overall strategy or plan that considers the needs and requirements of the design trade study process and the relationships among the M/T. Models are an important element in cost estimating; they transform parameters and design variables into estimates of cost performance and risk., The original document contains color images.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (LM Aero) have joined in the cost-shared development of a dual-use product-modeling environment for guiding a concept refinement process in terms of affordability. The target customers will include vehicle manufacturing industries (aerospace and automotive) where early decisions in product development have large consequences in subsequent production. AFRL interests lie in the development of a modeling environment for technology assessment, which anticipates (by necessity) military system product development. The target military application is the Simulation-Based Research and Development (SBR&D) initiative at AFRL Air Vehicles Directorate. At the heart of SBAAT is AFRL's role in identifying technology needs and prioritizing technology solutions with unprecedented attention to affordability issues. The objective of this paper is to describe and document the practicality, usefulness and payoff in the proposed CR process for meeting affordability interests related to new product design and vehicle technology development., Presented at RTO Applied Vehicle Technology Panel (AVT) Symposium held in Paris, France on 22-25 Apr 2002. The original document contains color images. ISBN 92-837-0027-9. Text in English; p53-1/53-12. This article is from ADA415759 Reduction of Military Vehicle Acquisition Time and Cost through Advanced Modelling and Virtual Simulation (La reduction des couts et des delais d'acquisition des vehicules militaires par la modelisation avancee et la simulation de produit virtuel)

This paper will examine the military engine preliminary design process used by Rolls-Royce to support capability vs. cost' trades conducted at the weapon system level. The engine is a major sub-system of all air vehicle assets making up a force mix. Changes in the engine capability, e.g. thrust/weight and specific fuel consumption, can be tracked through to air-vehicle performance and ultimately to the force mix capability. In the same manner these changes will impact on the engine and air-vehicle life cycle costs and hence the total system costs. These trades are vitally important in establishing the optimum affordable system solution early in the design and development cycle thereby preventing the need for expensive changes during full-scale development. Rolls-Royce has developed a preliminary design process to quickly assess engine capability incurred costs. The process has evolved to enable the rapid definition of an engine including performance attributes and Through Life Costs (TLC's)., Presented at RTO Applied Vehicle Technology Panel (AVT) Symposium held in Paris, France on 22-25 Apr 2002. The original document contains color images. ISBN 92-837-0027-9. Text in English; p52-1/52-11. This article is from ADA415759 Reduction of Military Vehicle Acquisition Time and Cost through Advanced Modelling and Virtual Simulation (La reduction des couts et des delais d'acquisition des vehicules militaires par la modelisation avancee et la simulation de produit virtuel)

Example Questions from the Experiment: Data-based search vs. map-based search -- Where is the aircraft that is closest to the carrier? What is the platform of the aircraft with track number 7022? Single attribute vs. comparison -- Where is the Strike aircraft with call sign Checkerboard 327? What is the call sign of the aircraft with the lowest fuel level? Single mission vs. all aircraft -- Where is the (DCA) aircraft with the fewest weapons? Comparisons Among Assets: Where is the strike aircraft with the lowest fuel level? Comparisons were slower than Singles -- e.g. Searching the geoplot and remembering previous values * Except for RG -- Sorting and comparing down a column * For comparisons, RG was 42% faster than Basic., Presented at the ONR TC3 Workshop on Cognitive Elements of Effective Collaboration, held in San Diego, CA on 15-17 Jan 2002. Document consists entirely of briefing charts. The original document contains color images.

This study evaluates the difference between the Design-Bid-Build (DBB) and Design-Build (DB) project delivery methods. The project delivery method defines the acquisition process, relationships roles and responsibilities of the project team and the sequence of events to deliver the facility. Southwest Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command (SWDIV) bas been using both the DBB and DB project delivery methods for the past decade. The most recent four-year period has seen an increase in the use of DB project delivery. This research provides a definitive and comprehensive investigation into the comparative performance of projects delivered using these two methods. A comparison of cost schedule and quality attributes of the two types of project delivery systems was completed using specific data from 110 military construction (MCON) projects. This study included extracting all MCON projects from the financial information system (FIS) database for the period 199O-2000. The first DB project was delivered in FY 1996 therefor the study focused on MCON projects completed from FY96-2000. All completed MCON projects were used to compare performance of all projects to the focus of this research Bachelor Enlisted Quarters Category Code 721. This study included interviews to verify the financial information system (FIS) data. A Survey questionnaire was distributed as the primary tool to collect data on quality performance. Several variables critical to project performance identified during interviews survey questionnaires and data collected from FIS were also included in this study. This research should help in understanding the two project delivery methods to help an owner better select the project delivery system most suited to their specific facility goals or criteria. Results and the level of confidence that surrounds specific findings are presented., The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Departnent of Defense or the U.S. Governent. , "The original document contains color images"

Die für die Konzeptphase des Produktentwicklungsprozesses erarbeitete integrierte Vorgehensweise bietet durch Methoden und Werkzeuge zur Zielkostenspaltung und -erreichung eine systematische Unterstützung hinsichtlich der: Funktionsprojektierung entsprechend den Kundenanforderungen Ermittlung der Prioritäten des Kunden Erarbeitung von Teilzielkostenvorgaben Konzipierung prinzipieller Lösungen Prognose deren voraussichtlicher Kosten Auswahl alternativer Lösungskonzepte Bewertung des technischen Potentials und des vergüteten Nutzens der Konzeptalternativen