As our DAU systems engineering performance learning director shared in his blog post earlier today, on May 8, 2013, the DoD released the major update to the Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG) Chapter 4, Systems Engineering.  The DAG Chapter 4 is the primary reference on the use of systems engineering throughout the system life cycle. Links to the new chapter have also been updated in DAG Chapter 5 – Life Cycle Logistics.

According to our systems engineering colleagues, “with this release, the chapter has been restructured to provide defense acquisition workforce members, including Systems Engineers, Program Managers and Life Cycle Logisticians with life cycle phase and systems engineering technical review expectations, including a knowledge-based, technical-maturity table for key events.  The chapter provides details on systems engineering technical and technical management processes and includes links to relevant policy, standards, and detailed guidance on key topics. DASD(SE) developed Chapter 4 working closely with contributors from 24 different organizations across the Department.  The update reflects recent policy changes and Better Buying Power initiatives. It emphasizes the role of systems engineering in providing balanced solutions (managing the system's cost, schedule, performance, and risk) to deliver Warfighter capability needs."

There is so much outstanding information contained in this updated DAG chapter, it is hard to know exactly where to start – hence my recommendation is simply to read and review the entire chapter! Would also encourage you to also really think about about how each of the activities, reviews, processes, and topics impacts, influences, and involves the life cycle logistician, the product support manager, the product support strategy, and the life cycle sustainment plan. Just a few of the many paragraphs you might want to pay particular attention to include (but are by no means limited to):

·         Para 4.3.8. Technical Data Management Process

·         Para 4.3.7. Configuration Management Process

·         Para 4.3.18.8. Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS)

·         Para 4.3.18. Design Considerations

·         Para 4.3.18.3. Anti-Counterfeiting

·         Para 4.3.18.19. Reliability and Maintainability Engineering  

·         Para 4.3.18.22. Supportability  

·         Para 4.3.19.2. Sustainability Analysis

·         Para 4.3.19.3. Value Engineering

This link at Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG) Chapter 4, Systems Engineering takes you to a hyperlinked/web-enabled version. A downloadable PDF version is also in development, and should be available in the coming days. Note, however, that as of today, the PDF version of the DAG available by selecting the “Available Downloads” tab at the top of the DAG homepage is still the earlier November 2012 version and has not yet been updated.

In addition, as part of our focus on the multi-functional integration of life cycle logistics and systems engineering in the context of designing, developing, deploying and sustaining supportable systems, we are also in the process of updating the content of the DoD Integrated Product Support Implementation Roadmap to ensure continued alignment with the revised DAG Chapter 4. Successfully providing our warfighter customers with efficient, effective, and affordable product support is truly an interdisciplinary endeavor!

Finally, an overview briefing outlining specific DAG Chapter 4 changes is also available. If you have any questions or for additional information, contact [email protected].