Lessons Learned: Outsourcing Support Equipment Development

This paper identifies lessons learned by Smiths Aerospace LLC (smiths aerospace) from outsourcing avionics support equipment development. The support equipment development included: electrical, mechanical and software design & equipment assembly. Many companies outsource for two objectives:1) staffing / skillset augmentation and / or 2) reduced cost. With aggressive sourcing management of this activity, these objectives can be met. Without aggressive sourcing management, meeting these objectives is greatly compromised with resulting impact to project cost and schedule.