Search Results

Technological advancements in aeronautical systems have not been matched by improvements in the way human system requirements (HSR) are taken into account during the development process. As a result, HSR accounts for increasing proportions of the life cycle costs of aeronautical systems -- 40 to 66 percent in the case of the US Air Force. Effective HSR analysis tools do not exist but this paper presents two emerging technologies which are focused on giving aeronautical system planners, designers, and developers the ability to integrate HSR tradeoffs into the development process and decrease the cost of ownership while maintaining system performance requirements.

The Manpower, Personnel, and Training (MPT) in Acquisition Decision Support System (DSS) is an Air Force program providing the first integrated tool for addressing MPT requirements during system acquisition and design. New weapon system development and major modifications have historically neglected how our most important and costly resource - people - will maintain and support the fielded system. Inadequate planning for training and deploying the human element has often delayed system operational dates. This DSS will assist acquisition managers and analysts to effectively integrate people issues (numbers, characteristics, proficiency) with equipment (aircraft) early in the acquisition cycle. Acquisition specialists can use the structured analysis approach provided by the MPT DSS to ensure that system people costs are affordable, jobs are properly structured, and people are trained prior to the system becoming operational.