Could cost in a TQM environment

Within the scope of total quality management (TQM) could cost is a means to achieve reductions in the cost of developing and producing weapon systems. Basically, could cost is a team effort of government and industry to identify and negotiate the elimination of non-value-added efforts in return for savings. Overall system cost reductions realized through conducting a could cost are achieved by saying no to added capabilities or added sophistication not needed to meet essential mission requirements. The steps undertaken to conducting a could cost are described. The approach undertaken to conduct an actual could cost on an Army system is described. The objective was to test the could cost concept