System effectiveness-a key to assurance [communication satellites]

The increasing demands for long life and reliability performance in space for communication satellites has focused increased attention on those critical parts. (Materials, processes, subassemblies, assemblies, and products) whose individual performance is essential to the success of the mission. Various case histories, problems, concerns, and uncertainties that arose during the design, manufacture, test, and acceptance of critical items on several communications satellite programs are reported. It is shown how they were resolved by system effectiveness activities. Subsequent corrective action taken is also discussed