Providing the Optimum Solution: Managing Design During Concept Development

In a business climate of expanding need, limited resources, and program challenges, it is difficult to sustain a program throughout its life cycle. The impact of this environment has been an increase in the number of concept studies, often with multiple competitive phases. While the intent is to produce an effective system, the atmosphere allows inefficiencies and challenges that are often detrimental to program optimization, often times impeding program completion. Developing a program philosophy that addresses the customer´s changing needs while maintaining the design balance necessary to successfully maintain program advocacy and pass key milestones is critical. A concept development plan should include tools that allow the details to change while retaining the needs of the customer and user community. Utilizing tools such as quality function deployment at the system level ensures that near term customer needs are addressed while maintaining focus on customer expectations and user satisfaction. Successfully implementing sound practices, coupled with creative thinking, promotes a winning solution for the customer, user, and the contractor.