By: Abdul Nuhu, Chief Engineer, Engineering, Science & Technology, 做厙勛圖

Introduction
In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the Department of Defense (DoD) faces numerous challenges in transforming and modernizing its operations to maintain its military superiority. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) has emerged as a powerful methodology that can significantly accelerate this transformation. By leveraging the benefits of MBSE, the DoD can enhance decision-making, streamline development processes, and optimize resource allocation, ultimately driving efficiency and innovation across its complex systems. This article explores how MBSE can expedite the transformation and modernization efforts in the DoD.

Enhanced Decision-Making
MBSE provides a holistic and integrated framework for capturing, analyzing, and visualizing system requirements, architecture, behavior, and performance. This enables decision-makers to have a comprehensive understanding of the system and its dependencies, facilitating better-informed decisions at every stage of the system���s lifecycle.

One key advantage of MBSE is its ability to facilitate quicker Analysis-of-Alternatives (AoA) and trade-off analysis. Decision-makers can use MBSE models to assess different design alternatives, evaluate their impact on system performance, cost, and schedule, and make decisions based on objective and quantifiable metrics. This approach allows the DoD to optimize system designs, balance competing requirements, and allocate resources effectively.

Furthermore, MBSE enables effective collaboration and communication among multidisciplinary teams. By utilizing a common modeling language and a shared repository of system models, stakeholders from different domains can collaborate seamlessly. This collaboration improves the exchange of information, promotes shared understanding, and reduces the risk of miscommunication. Decision-makers can leverage the collective expertise of the team, leading to better decisions that reflect a broader range of perspectives.

MBSE also supports decision-making in the context of system sustainment and evolution. By maintaining an up-to-date model of the system, decision-makers can assess the impact of proposed changes, such as upgrades or modifications, before implementation. They can evaluate the effects on system performance, interoperability, and lifecycle costs, ensuring that decisions are made with a clear understanding of the potential consequences.

Streamlined Development Processes
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is an approach that utilizes models as the central artifact for system development, enabling a streamlined and efficient development process. By representing system requirements, designs, and behavior in a model-based format, MBSE offers several benefits that can significantly enhance development processes.

Traditional development processes often involve complex and lengthy documentation, leading to misinterpretations and communication gaps. In contrast, MBSE employs graphical models that are easily understood by different stakeholders, such as engineers, designers, and customers. These models serve as a common language, facilitating effective communication and fostering collaboration throughout the development lifecycle.

The Models also allow for visualizing system architectures, components, and their relationships, providing a holistic view of the system. This enables early detection of design flaws, potential conflicts, and performance bottlenecks, enabling proactive decision-making and reducing the likelihood of costly rework. Through simulation and analysis capabilities, MBSE enables the assessment of system behavior under various scenarios, optimizing system performance and ensuring its adherence to requirements.

MBSE promotes reusability and modularity. Models can be structured hierarchically, allowing for the encapsulation of components and subsystems. This modular approach enables the reuse of model elements across different projects and system variants, reducing development time and effort. Moreover, changes made to one part of the model can be automatically propagated to dependent parts, ensuring consistency, and minimizing errors.

Models also provide traceability links between system requirements, design elements, and test cases. This facilitates impact analysis, change management, and verification/validation activities. Additionally, MBSE enables the incorporation of compliance standards and regulations into the models, ensuring that system development remains aligned with applicable guidelines and facilitating the certification process.

Optimized Resource Allocation
MBSE offers significant potential to optimize resource allocation for the Department of Defense (DoD). MBSE enables the DoD to develop comprehensive and integrated system models that capture all relevant aspects of a given defense system. These models can include requirements, architecture, behavior, interfaces, and performance parameters. By having a holistic view of the system, decision-makers can make more informed choices about resource allocation. They can identify areas of redundancy, eliminate unnecessary components, and optimize the allocation of personnel, equipment, and budgetary resources.

Decision-makers can analyze the impact of different resource configurations on system performance, cost, and schedule. They can perform “what-if” analyses to assess trade-offs and identify the most efficient allocation strategies. By conducting these simulations in a virtual environment, the DoD can minimize risks and costs associated with physical prototyping and testing.

The use of standardized modeling languages and frameworks enables a common understanding of system requirements and constraints. This promotes effective communication and coordination among different organizations and disciplines within the DoD. Improved collaboration reduces the likelihood of resource conflicts and ensures that resources are allocated in a coordinated and synergistic manner.

Additionally, MBSE supports iterative and incremental development processes, allowing the DoD to adapt resource allocation strategies over time. As the system evolves and new information becomes available, decision-makers can update the system models and reassess resource allocations accordingly. This flexibility enables the DoD to respond to changing mission requirements, technological advancements, and budget constraints effectively.

Interoperability and Integration
The DoD relies on a vast array of interconnected systems and platforms. MBSE plays a pivotal role in enabling the DoD to achieve interoperability and seamless integration across its complex systems. By leveraging MBSE methodologies, the DoD can streamline communication, collaboration, and decision-making processes throughout the lifecycle of its systems, resulting in enhanced interoperability and efficient integration.

One of the key advantages of MBSE is its ability to provide a unified modeling language and framework for capturing system requirements, designs, and behaviors. This standardized approach ensures that all stakeholders, including different branches of the military, government agencies, and contractors, can communicate effectively and share a common understanding of the system architecture.

Through MBSE, the DoD can create a digital representation of its systems, encompassing various domains such as hardware, software, communications, and human factors. This holistic representation allows different systems to be modeled and simulated together, enabling the identification of potential integration challenges early in the development process. By detecting and resolving interoperability issues at the design stage, costly rework and delays during system integration can be minimized.

MBSE also enables virtual testing and verification of system interoperability. This approach allows the DoD to assess the behavior and performance of complex systems under different operational scenarios, ensuring seamless integration and interoperability in real-world situations. By conducting virtual tests, the DoD can reduce the risks associated with live testing, save time, and optimize resource allocation.

MBSE promotes a collaborative environment. through shared models and information exchange, teams can work together to identify and address potential interoperability challenges proactively. This collaborative approach fosters coordination among different agencies and contractors, facilitating seamless integration of systems across the DoD.

Agility and Adaptability
MBSE has emerged as a powerful approach that enhances the ability of the Department of Defense (DoD) to be more agile and adaptable in its operations. MBSE revolutionizes traditional systems engineering practices by utilizing models as the primary means of capturing, analyzing, and communicating system requirements, designs, and behaviors. This shift from document-centric to model-centric practices enables the DoD to respond swiftly to evolving mission requirements and technology advancements.

Through the use of models, system engineers can simulate and evaluate different design alternatives, allowing for early detection of potential issues and the exploration of innovative solutions. This iterative approach promotes agility, as it enables the DoD to quickly adapt and refine systems based on feedback and changing needs.

MBSE supports better collaboration and communication among multidisciplinary teams. By providing a common visual language, models break down silos between stakeholders and foster a shared understanding of system requirements and behaviors. This collaborative environment enhances the ability to integrate diverse perspectives, resolve conflicts, and make informed decisions, ultimately leading to more effective and adaptable solutions.

MBSE improves the traceability and transparency of system development. Models capture the relationships between system components, requirements, and design decisions, enabling comprehensive traceability throughout the entire lifecycle. This traceability not only enhances accountability but also facilitates the identification of potential impacts when changes occur. As a result, the DoD can rapidly assess the consequences of modifying a requirement, subsystem, or operational scenario, allowing for more informed decision-making and quicker adaptations.

MBSE also supports the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and autonomous systems. By modeling these technologies and their interactions with the overall system, the DoD can evaluate their feasibility, performance, and potential risks before implementation. This proactive approach enables the DoD to capitalize on technological advancements and stay ahead of adversaries, reinforcing its ability to adapt to dynamic operational environments.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement
MBSE plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and continuous improvement within the Department of Defense (DoD). By employing a holistic and systematic approach to managing complex defense systems, MBSE enables greater collaboration, efficiency, and adaptability throughout the entire lifecycle of these systems.

One key aspect of MBSE is its ability to facilitate early and iterative design exploration. By employing modeling and simulation techniques, MBSE allows defense engineers and stakeholders to experiment with different design alternatives and assess their performance and viability before committing to physical prototypes. This not only reduces development costs and time but also encourages innovative thinking and the exploration of new ideas. Engineers can easily visualize, analyze, and refine system architectures, components, and interfaces, fostering creativity and enabling the identification of novel solutions to complex defense challenges.

MBSE also promotes interoperability and integration across various defense domains. The DoD operates a vast array of systems, subsystems, and technologies that must work together seamlessly. MBSE provides a common language and framework for capturing, representing, and exchanging system information and requirements among different stakeholders and disciplines. This enables better collaboration, coordination, and integration of efforts, leading to improved system performance and efficiency. By breaking down organizational and technical silos, MBSE encourages innovation through cross-pollination of ideas and knowledge sharing.

Another important aspect of MBSE is its focus on continuous improvement and lifecycle management. Through the use of digital models and data-driven analysis, MBSE enables proactive decision-making and performance optimization throughout the lifecycle of defense systems. By capturing and analyzing real-time data from operational systems, MBSE helps identify areas for improvement, predict maintenance needs, and inform future design iterations. This iterative feedback loop drives a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and enhancement within the DoD, ensuring that defense systems are constantly evolving to meet changing requirements and emerging threats.

Conclusion
In conclusion, MBSE fosters innovation and continuous improvement within the DoD by promoting early exploration of design alternatives, enabling interoperability and integration, and facilitating data-driven decision-making throughout the lifecycle of defense systems. By embracing MBSE, the DoD can harness the power of digital modeling, simulation, and analysis to drive innovation, enhance system performance, and maintain technological superiority in an ever-evolving defense landscape.

To learn more about 做厙勛圖’s experience and team of experts, click here.

The post Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is Accelerating Transformation and Modernization Within the Department of Defense�� appeared first on 做厙勛圖.

做厙勛圖 is in 14 of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with 2200+ employees working diligently to advance our customers��� mission and help create a safer, smarter, cleaner world.

On the Hawaiian Islands, 做厙勛圖 delivers advanced communications solutions to include sophisticated tactical and strategic antenna systems and satellite networks and terminals. We secure sustainment and modernization to critical aircraft hangars. We support system installation and modernization updates to multiple fleet training systems to include engineering support for simulations. 做厙勛圖 provides information technology solutions across multiple mission areas in USINDOPACOM. We deliver continued solutions on the development of mobile at-sea sensor system platforms.

In Guam, 做厙勛圖 delivers technical and program management solutions to government designated sites, as well as fleet technical assistance to antenna, radar, navigation, and networks to submarines. We provide spectrum management and electromagnetic warfare support. 做厙勛圖 provides port operations, facility and vehicle maintenance, environmental services, and utilities operations. At the moment, we are also assisting the Navy and the island community of Guam in recovering from Typhoon Mawar.

In Japan, we provide hazardous waste management solutions for the Marine Corps and Navy, as well as base operations support solutions for multiple customers.

In the Philippines, 做厙勛圖 develops and enhances peacekeeping capabilities through comprehensive training and mentoring instructional programs.

And in the Asia-Pacific region in general, 做厙勛圖 delivers C5I system modernization, national threat reduction and capacity building solutions, environmental compliance solutions, and humanitarian and disaster relief support solutions. For example, we support the Navy Seabees in various locations throughout the region to include Tinian, Palau, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea, aiding local populations through various humanitarian projects such as schools and clinics in communities of need.

A big thank you to our hard-working employees in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world!

The post 做厙勛圖 Asia-Pacific Presence and Performance appeared first on 做厙勛圖.

When learning about digital engineering, I could not help but reminisce on my 12^th grade AP physics class, in which this language and business major happened to get an A+. Inevitably, in every homework assignment, was the dreaded word problem. Oh, how I hated the word problems and their obnoxious attempts at real-world applicability.

A constant force of 1200 N is required to push a car along a straight line. A person displaces the car 45 m. How much work is done by the person?

The answer to that question is of course, ���Way too much. They should���ve called AAA.��� Also, why was it always a car in these problems, and who in their right mind is pushing a car 45 meters? For the record, I think these word problems are why I ended up majoring in foreign languages and business, not engineering.

Jokes aside, in learning how the laws of physics governed everything in the observable universe ��� from a feather falling in a vacuum to the escape velocity of space shuttles ��� I began to see everything as a math problem with infinite possible inputs and outputs. From the infinitesimally small to the incomprehensibly large, physics could model just about anything.

While the idea of creating models to solve problems is not new, technology is now at the stage where we can realistically create digital models of the physical world by taking in all the ���physics��� data. There are no physical prototypes made of F1 racing cars. Every aspect of the racecar is modeled with digital twins from the mass, engine torque, turn handling, tire interaction with the road, and even the driver���s handling ability. Only one physical racecar is built.

Ok, maybe the word problems about cars make sense!

So, what is Digital Engineering? At 做厙勛圖, we view digital engineering as the application of computer hardware, software, networks, systems, and cloud technologies to model highly complex physical environments over real-world scenarios. We have made several investments to help our customers realize a digital engineering transformation.

Advancing Our Clients into the Future. 做厙勛圖 established a 6,000 sq. ft. Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Collaboration Center complete with a comprehensive digital engineering tool suite. We offer Object Management Group (OMG)-Certified Systems Modeling Professional (OCSMP) certification and training. Our subject matter experts have developed a Digital Engineering Playbook that aligns with both the and the to define our standards and practices.

Successes. These investments have led to numerous successes for our customers. We created a full digital twin of an entire U.S. Navy nuclear submarine including models for all mechanical, electrical, fire suppression, hull integrity, navigation, and non-propulsion electronic systems. This digital twin is a critical MBSE solution for the Columbia-class submarine acquisition category (ACAT I) program. Our team has also created digital twins which simulate hundreds of Electro-Optical/Intra-Red (EO/IR) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor nodes and sensor data fusion to support the Army���s replacement of the multiple integrated laser engagement system, or MILES, for soldier field combat exercises.

Through our investments, our customers across DoD have realized several benefits of digital engineering:

1. Reduction in Acquisition Risks: Systems are designed, assembled, tested and sustained using digital models thereby reducing learning curve and integration risks. Even partial digitization can reduce risk in systems.
2. Reduction in Maintenance: The ability to test via data driven analysis promotes accurate change impact analysis by enabling traceability from requirements to solution. Ultimately this allows sustainment costs to be compared and more accurately predicted.
3. Preserving Material Resources: Entire systems can be designed and integrated before having to bend any metal. It provides risk-free experimentation because changes can be made without affecting the supply chain.
4. Integrated Data Environment: Diverse data streams can be pulled into a unified model for a ���wall of truth.��� This model aids and improves communications by adopting a common language that ensures standardized semantics, clarity, and consistency for representing system architecture and design.

Conclusion. 做厙勛圖���s robust digital engineering practice is extremely well aligned with our customer���s MBSE requirements.

The post Free Your Mind from Real World Restrictions: Digital Engineering appeared first on 做厙勛圖.

How did you come to join 做厙勛圖?

I joined EG&G in 1999 at the Dahlgren office as a software engineer developing code for unmanned vehicles.

What is your professional and personal background?

My professional background is IT project management, SBU financial business ops management, software engineering, and systems engineering. I am the oldest of four kids, went to a technical school, then to college after being hired at 19 years old by a defense contractor as a software engineer. I have four wonderful kids ranging from 30 to 18 years old and three cuddly pit bulls. 做厙勛圖 1.5 years ago, I moved from the Austin area of Texas to Beckley, West Virginia to get back the four seasons, mountains, and a lower cost of living.

Describe the work you do and how you think it makes a positive impact.

In my current role, I oversee the delivery of project-based changes to the back-office functions of 做厙勛圖 and monitor the realization of planned benefits from those project-based changes.

What are some of your accomplishments and/or what has been your proudest career moment?

I completed my bachelor���s degree and MBA while working full time and raising my four children. My proudest career moment was being selected as the program manager for the same EG&G contract for which I had been hired to be a software engineer.

What do you enjoy about working for 做厙勛圖?

I enjoy the high caliber of my 做厙勛圖 colleagues, my direct manager���s support and guidance, and the ability to work from home.

What are you passionate about?

I���m passionate about the value I can add to 做厙勛圖.

What���s your career advice?

Seek to understand your direct manager���s and 做厙勛圖���s goals and objectives. Focus on what you can control and influence ��� and adding value every day.

What does safety mean to you or do you have a favorite safety tip?

Safety to me means ensuring I end my workday safe and healthy, and help my colleagues do the same. As someone who spends her day using a computer, my favorite safety tip is how to arrange your workstation ergonomically.

What���s the best invention in the world and why?

In my opinion, the best inventions ever are vaccines and antibiotics.

What does this year���s IWD theme, #BreakTheBias mean to you?

We all have unconscious bias. Let���s all be intentional/purposeful in identifying those biases and eradicating them.

Anything else you would like to share from a personal or professional perspective?

Soft skills matter. There is more power and influence to be had in asking probing questions than in making statements. Gather information about 做厙勛圖, 做厙勛圖���s leaders, and the industry 做厙勛圖 operates in. Invest in yourself ��� read, listen to podcasts, and if possible get a certification or degree that would help you be increasingly effective.

The post Employee Spotlight: Meet Anna Watkins appeared first on 做厙勛圖.

The battlefield is changing, and it is imperative that we do everything we can to ensure the warfighter is prepared for complex situations. Current training relies on legacy technologies that prohibits a realistic and accurate training for our soldiers. Emerging technology solutions can significantly improve the training experience and better prepare soldiers with clear overmatch capabilities.

做厙勛圖���s solution revolutionizes Army force-on-force training through a modern, edge-compute enabled sensor platform. The Weapons as a Sensor Platform Internet of Things (WaaSP IoT) incorporates devices directly on targeting systems to ensure data is accurate and secure across training, operations, and maintenance. The WaaSP IoT architecture enables selective adoption of new technologies when timing and finances best support the end user. WaaSP IoT also supports accurate and realistic training measurement through our core research-based approach to data collection, evaluation, and feedback. Methodologies can be integrated that help trainees to learn more effectively and perform more consistently. The system is mobile and mounts directly on weapons and can operate in remote environments.

The United States Congress recognized the game-changing significance of this technology. During the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act process, the House of Representatives included Synthetic Training Environment (STE) as an Item of Special Interest. The language highlights the importance of STE in preparing the warfighter for real-world scenarios and improving overall readiness of units. The House expressed interest in seeing the Department of Defense (DoD) pursue STE options and plans to follow DoD���s plans closely.

At 做厙勛圖, we take great pride in working hard to support the warfighter and guarantee readiness. For years, we have been the hallmark for how soldiers maintain overmatch ��� providing a deep understanding of design, testing, developing, and fielding of U.S. Army systems at home and abroad.�� The resulting value to the U.S. Army is a live training solution that advances the future of U.S. Army modernization and lethality which can be delivered at the speed of Army readiness. With a 116-year history of partnership with the U.S. armed forces, 做厙勛圖 is committed to soldier and unit readiness and stands ready to support in all domains, land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace.

The post WaaSP IoT: Future of U.S. Army Training appeared first on 做厙勛圖.

As stated on the Space Force���s website:

���[t]he USSF is a military service that organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force. USSF responsibilities include developing Guardians, acquiring military space systems, maturing the military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces to present to our Combatant Commands.���

At this stage, the USSF is laser focused on ensuring it has the right authorities, that it is properly staffed, and that it has the right structure. Another integral piece in setting it up for success is the Alternative Acquisition System Report (ASR), which will inform the Space Force���s acquisition strategy.

The Pentagon included $17.4 billion for the USSF in its recently released 2022 budget request to Congress, a 13 percent increase over the previous year. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Al, an original champion of the Space Force and the current Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, told Defense News in February that the Space Force ���has very unanimous support in the House Armed Services Committee and overwhelming support in the Senate Armed Services Committee. As long as it���s got congressional support, we���re going to be fine.���

Currently the USSF is comprised of former Air Force personnel and civilians, also known as Space Force Guardians. In his May 27, 2021 testimony before the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Miley said, ���[o]ngoing actions to fully resource the United States Space Force (USSF) including transfer of the Space Development Agency (SDA) and unit transfers from the Army and Navy, will enhance the USSF���s ability to organize, train, equip and present forces who can compete, deter and if necessary prevail should war initiate in, or extend to space���. Once the transfer of personnel is complete, the USSF will then realize its personnel gaps and work to fill them, likely with contractors. Those who make up the force will hail from a variety of backgrounds with an emphasis on cyber and engineering. While the USSF has an important mission, the goal is for the branch is to remain small and nimble.

As a premier global government partner, 做厙勛圖 stands ready to support the USSF. We have proudly supported more than 100 government and commercial space launches and provide engineering services that span the entire program lifecycle ��� from initial needs analysis, development, and maturation to production, deployment, and sustainment. We are confident that, when called upon, we will help the USSF achieve mission success in the ultimate high ground.

The post The U.S. Space Force, Semper Supra appeared first on 做厙勛圖.

Procurement
Having a dedicated procurement team supporting the business is extremely important, especially during a pandemic. This allowed us to quickly setup a national agreement with an emergency cleaning service provider for rapid response to a COVID-19 event, if needed. The scope of decontamination services setup in the agreement included spraying or fogging of an EPA registered and approved product; and following the CDC���s guidelines for hand wiping all touch points, removing all trash and debris, vacuuming all dust up to 6 feet, and cleaning/disinfecting walls and floors.

In addition, when certain materials were initially unavailable through the standard local suppliers, our procurement team���s ability to source difficult-to-obtain items such as PPE (KN95 and surgical masks, latex gloves) and hand sanitizer/stands was critical to being able to re-open the facilities.

Planning
While the procurement team set up a service agreement, our facilities maintenance (FM) team worked with the emergency cleaning service provider and the client���s safety, health, and environmental group to review safety data sheets and obtain approval for specific chemicals that would be used in common areas and labs if a COVID-19 cleanup was deemed necessary. The FM team also gathered information from the supplier including available resources in the local area, response time to an event, PPE requirements, cleaning scope of work, special training needed, and much more.

At the request of the client, our FM team developed a report that detailed ���HVAC present status and readiness for COVID-19 challenges. This document evaluated recommendations and guidelines from the CDC, ASHRAE, OSHA, and others. for commercial general use buildings as compared to the actual conditions in the client���s facilities. Areas evaluated included air changes per hour, occupied mode hours, air handling unit filter MERV ratings, maintenance schedules, humidity, demand-controlled ventilation, and energy recovery devices. Some minor adjustments were made, such as operating building ventilation two hours longer than normal operation, but it was ultimately determined that the building���s HVAC systems aligned with or exceed the latest recommendations from all major government agencies and technical organizations.

Return-to-work planning was performed in partnership with the client to understand and identify how to prepare facilities for re-occupation. Tasks included:

• Identifying social distancing signage requirements based on room/space type, creating signage designs, and developing signage location floor plans as shown in the example below.
• Identifying hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipe locations.
• Furniture placement adjustments to meet social distancing requirements.
• Discussions about cleaning frequencies and implementing enhanced cleaning protocols (focusing on touchpoints) with our on-site janitorial subcontractor.
• Researching touch-free options and pricing to give the client alternative choices. Some examples are below.

Implementation
Once the planning phase ended and employee-tiered re-opening dates were determined, it was time to implement the strategies developed. Signage was procured and installed throughout the facilities.

Additional supplies of hand sanitizer and wipes were ordered. Hand sanitizer was placed at elevators, main entrances/lobbies, restrooms, pantries, and breakrooms, while disinfectant wipes were placed in conference rooms and at cubicle areas. Furniture was rearranged and/or removed to ensure social distancing and plexiglass installed at the cash registers in the cafeteria.

In addition to standard cleaning services, an enhanced cleaning program now focuses on touchpoints at a minimum of two times per day. We are looking to potentially expand that model by increasing touchpoint frequencies and/or utilizing electrostatic disinfectant sprayers (after hours) in the future.

Looking out for our clients��� best interests is what we strive for at 做厙勛圖. Whether it���s through procurement, planning, and implementation, or the efficient use of labor resources, we ensured a healthy and safe work environment making difficult decisions to support our clients during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.

The post Creating Safer Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on 做厙勛圖.

by Dr. Lucas Marino and Dr. Kaitlynn Castelle

Part 1: Digital Engineering Supports Asset Availability and Sustainment
In an era of increased foreign competition and rapid innovation, information technology (IT) systems supporting asset availability are critical. The capability of the weapon system means nothing if the asset is not available. Lethal capabilities win battles, whereas effective sustainment systems win wars.
As Dr. Will Roper stated last year in There is No Spoon, ���The digital world is now a primal acquisition battlefield where future wars will be won or lost.��� Bringing model-based systems engineering technology to the product support mission is a true force multiplier for realizing victory.

IT systems supporting efficient operations increase asset availability and mitigate the rising costs of sustainment. They reduce the labor burden associated with manual processes, and disparate systems through automation and data availability and utility.

Product support primarily develops and implements strategies to sustain warfighter readiness by meeting fleet operational and material availability requirements while reducing operations and sustainment (O&S) costs across the life cycle. Acquisition managers can leverage 3D model designs and digital twins to develop sustainment capabilities and enhance the utility of the design interface and logistics technical data through the use of mission critical software for product data management.

Digital models are now commonly used in design, engineering, manufacturing, and production, while also enhancing our ability to plan and manage an asset���s sustainment through maintenance and modernization. Modern weapon systems designed in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) environments bring multi-disciplinary, model-based capabilities and digital twin technology to in-service operations. Within PLM, the digital thread of the configuration-worthy component is established, providing accessible data and generation of digital twin models to support life cycle analysis, planning, and decision-making.

The tactical value of MBSE tools resides in the enhancement of user environments. 3D visualization of the platform product model provides an advantage over legacy data processes when the geometric digital twin is linked to technical and logistics data. This technology enables spatial awareness and contextualization of information to improve understanding of maintenance tasks to be performed by ship���s crew or shoreside maintainers. When successfully implemented, there are many potential benefits to logistics and maintenance operations, including:
��� Providing cross-reference points for retrieving the right information during job planning
��� Prognosticating work package challenges
��� Procedure documentation
��� Maintenance task troubleshooting
��� Reducing errors, rework, and total duration to complete maintenance tasks
��� Tracking of tag-outs, isolations, and flow visualization
��� Familiarization for training, ship-checks, and engineering change proposals
��� Additive manufacturing, with requisite fidelity and availability of product information such as material properties, geometric dimensions, and tolerances.

Minutes matter in the demanding sustainment environment. Work stoppages impede the continuous forward movement of logistics and maintenance planning and execution. Leveraging digital twin technology focuses on filtering available information and putting it in context to enable timely, appropriate decision-making and execution while supporting changes as new data becomes available. Digital threads can deliver timely, accessible, and accurate information and inform models to support analysis, strategy, and decision-making. Connectivity to authoritative data and automated methods to ingest multiple sources and formats in secure environments must advance to support our defense customers as they pursue digital transformation.

We���ll discuss digital twins and digital threads more in Part 2.

The post Part 1: Digital Engineering Supports Asset Availability and Sustainment appeared first on 做厙勛圖.

How did you come to join 做厙勛圖?
The recruiters were able to find me through LinkedIn.

What is your professional and personal background?
I was a Naval officer with 28 years of service. My specialty was surface warfare. I had the pleasure of commanding two U.S. Navy warships, the USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) and the USS Wasp (LHD 1). I completed three tours in the Pentagon where I served on Navy Staff, the Joint Staff and U.S. Special Operations Staff. Based on my professional tours I know and understand supporting Department of Defense technical and programmatic support.

How did your military service prepare you for a successful career at 做厙勛圖?
My military service taught me how do be a servant leader and manager. It taught me that people are first, and it is important to know how to empower people which in turn will create a synergistic effect for everyone to work together to achieve common goals. It also taught me the importance of accountability and responsibility. These characteristics help me to be a good teammate and to be successful in my current position.

Describe the work you do and how you think it makes a positive impact.
My main job focus is to develop business in the NAVSEA Surface Navy Market Space. This job allows me to interface with the government customer to determine their needs and to win work for the 做厙勛圖 team.

What are some of your accomplishments and/or what has been your proudest career moment?
So far��� it was being a finalist for the 2019 Innovation Award. Also, growing the business pipeline for new work and working on winning proposals.

What do you enjoy about working for 做厙勛圖?
The camaraderie. The leadership cares about their people, making it a fun place to work.

What are you passionate about?
Serving my country by being a military veteran.

What���s your career advice?
Continue to set goals for yourself and to reach those goals the goals you set. Also be a good listener. Because that is how you learn to improve your skill set.

What does safety mean to you, or do you have a favorite safety tip?
What safety means to me is increase people���s situational awareness whether it is in the workplace or at home to conduct activities in such a way as to not be injured or cause an injury to a fellow worker or friend. My favorite safety tip is while working at your desk, get up and stretch at least every 50 minutes or so and keep yourself hydrated.

What���s the best invention in the world and why?
The Internet is the best invention. It provides unlimited access to information.
We recently closed out the month of February, which is Black History Month.

What does it mean to you?
President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to, ���seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.��� Black history is American history. The two histories are intertwined and it���s important to know, understand, and celebrate the accomplishments that Black Americans have made throughout history. Black History Month is important because it highlights the achievements of Black Americans from the beginning of our country to current times.

During this time of reflection, I think of early civil rights pioneers such as Harriette Tubman and Booker T. Washington from early in our history. It is in this month that we hold fast to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. as we see his dream being revealed before our eyes. As we honor those in the past, it is important to champion icons that are a part of modern American history like Michael Jordan, General Colin Powell, and President Barack Obama to name a few. Black Americans will continue to forge new paths and overcome adversity now, and in the future, just as the Black Americans have before them.

Not only does Black History Month help Black Americans learn more about their history, it also helps remind America at large the important role that Black Americans have in our society today. This is a time to focus on the success of America through the lens of Black Americans.

The post Employee Spotlight: Meet Jim Wise appeared first on 做厙勛圖.

The increasing complexities of a connected world and persistent federal budgetary pressures call for innovation and a different way of managing complex processes and operations. Processes that involve end-to-end supply chains and inventory control are no exception to that.

To complement our Supply Chain Management (SCM) solutions and provide increased value and efficiencies to our customers, we have also applied our Advanced Process Automation capability to this domain. This in turn changes the paradigm of process automation from being a back-office innovation to a mission-oriented one.

做厙勛圖���s Advanced Process Automation capability provides a proven approach to create efficiencies and generate capacity via use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA)/Intelligent Automation technology and a Center of Excellence. We believe the most effective automation solutions are those that complement existing domain expertise, helping streamline and optimize routine business tasks. We seek to apply this capability to strengthen our customers��� missions by enhancing the customer experience and improving compliance, standardization, and auditing.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) was recently highlighted in the ���State of Federal RPA��� report as one of five federal agencies rated at ���Level 4��� RPA maturity (highest is Level 5, with no agencies at that maturity yet). The DLA RPA program has deployed at least 96 automations at the end of FY20. These automations have contributed over 200,000 hours of annualized capacity. It is important to note the DLA tracks hours contributed rather than hours saved, as the employees that previously did the work are still part of the DLA workforce and are redeployed to focus on more complex work. The automations provide benefits across each of DLA���s five major subordinate commands and seven supply chains.

Other Federal agencies are likewise investing significant resources into RPA solutions, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the General Services Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In each instance, many labor hours are being saved, and staff are able to increase focus on value-added activities.

做厙勛圖���s initiative reflects similar goals. We seek to reduce manual activities where automated processes would reduce or eliminate error-prone, structured processes allowing staff to be freed up for high-value tasks such as process improvements, analysis and decision making. In the context of SCM solutions, this helps us to exceed key metrics, accomplish better vendor management and approval, and improve quality measurements.

For example, 做厙勛圖���s technology office in collaboration with our procurement department, designed and deployed a bot using this capability, powered by our vendor partner UiPath, a leader in Intelligent Automation. The bot automated many repetitive manual steps for supply chain-related web searches. The bot captured results and screenshots, compiled all information into a single report, and stored all artifacts. It interfaced with procurement���s intranet site for request intake, report uploads and user notifications. It implemented a queuing mechanism, error handling and adjustments to manage the variability in responses and delays from external websites. The solution created value by allowing staff to focus on decision making, introduced process standardization, and improved auditing. Staff managing both subcontractors and vendors were given access to the storage, which acted as a central information repository and helped reduce redundancies.

Additional areas where SCM solutions benefit from automation range from inventory tracking, proactive scheduling of work orders, invoice processing, price/vendor lookups and comparisons, and routing between delivery partners.

Here are a few insights, based on the work we���ve done:
��� Re-skilling and training should not be an afterthought. Advances in process automation provide our stakeholders with the ability to have staff re-skilled so that they can focus on other aspects of the business. This needs to be baked into the overall automation planning and development. Once developed, the bots act as digital workers or helpers, which means stakeholders need to be trained on what to expect and how best to use the bots.
��� Think resiliency. There is a tradeoff to be made between lean supply chains and resilient supply chains, especially if the latter is built via inventory buffers and alternative partners. This is where automation can potentially shine by collecting data, researching options, and making decisions on-the-fly across the alternatives.
��� There is an elegance in simplicity. Bots work well for automating processes with manual tasks that require non-judgmental decisions and have structured steps. Start simple, find the sweet spot of good return on investment first. Think big to unleash the power of artificial intelligence technologies as a path to intelligent automation.

By implementing solutions that will yield continuous improvements and added features in future years, we help our customers also derive nearer term benefits including freeing staff for high-value tasks, improved delivery, error reduction and quality, better compliance and auditing, knowledge management and retention, and transparency in operations. 做厙勛圖 strives for excellence via a deep customer focus, discovery, investments in and application of advanced technologies, aligning them with our key customer markets to serve their important missions in a low-risk, agile fashion.

The post Attaining Nextgen Supply Chain Management Through Effective Process Automation appeared first on 做厙勛圖.