Systems Engineering in Materiel Solution Analysis
DAU GLOSSARY DEFINITION
An interdisciplinary approach and process encompassing the entire technical effort to evolve, verify and sustain an integrated and total life cycle balanced set of system, people, and process solutions that satisfy customer needs. SE is the integrating mechanism for the technical and technical management efforts related to the concept analysis, Materiel Solution Analysis (MSA), Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR), Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), Production and Deployment (P&D), Operations and Support (O&S), disposal of, and user training for systems and their life cycle processes.
The purpose of the Materiel Solution Analysis (MSA) phase is to refine the initial concept and develop a Technology Development Strategy (TDS). Systems engineering activities in this phase:
- Examine the alternatives and identify a preferred solution
- Provide a technical evaluation of the operational effectiveness and estimated costs of the alternative system concepts
- Assess the advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives under consideration
- From a Systems Engineering perspective, the essence of Materiel Solution Analysis is a top-down decomposition and allocation of system concepts into progressively more detailed functional definitions.
Key Phase Characteristics:- User capabilities to be expressed in terms of system performance requirements
- First substantial opportunity to influence system design considering risks
- AoA conducted to capture range of product options
- Acquisition Strategy (AS) developed
Inputs to Material Solution Analysis Phase typically include:
- An approved Initial Capabilities Document (ICD)
- An Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) Plan
- Alternate Maintenance & Sustainment Concepts
- Additional Inputs:
- Information resulting from study contracts and trade studies that analyze various materiel solutions and technology approaches
- Various preliminary architectures Supportability objectives and goals
Outputs to Material Solution Analysis Phase typically include:
Figure 1. Material Solution Analysis (MSA) Phase
- Preliminary System Specification
- Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP)
- Systems Engineering Plan (SEP)
- System Safety Analysis
- Support and Maintenance Concepts and Technologies
- Inputs to:
- Cost/Manpower Estimate
- Draft Capabilities Design Document (CDD)
- Initial Baseline Review (IBR)
- Acquisition Strategy (AS)
- Cybersecurity planning