Engineering

Policy for Safety and Mission Success 

This NASA policy directive, while short, provides a detailed discussion defining acceptable levels of mission success risk and crew safety levels for flight and is applicable to NASA HQ, NASA Centers, and their employees while expressing the importance of protecting all entities including terrestrial, orbital, and planetary environments from harm, and create a culture that understands risk, and safety. The directive is for use by the Administrator and goes through the process of identifying, accessing, managing, and accepting crew safety and mission safety and encouraging reporting without being held for misconduct.

https://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?Internal_ID=N_PD_8700_001F_&page_name=main&search_term=mission%20success 

NASA Technical Standard for Safety Standard for Explosives, Propellants, and Pyrotechnics

The NASA Standard reviews safety for the handling and processing of explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics by an individual. This standard is applicable to anyone that handles, stores, transports or encounters explosives or anything containing explosive materials. To ensure the safety of the system, and those handling and processing explosives need to understand and implement safety standards, procedures and requirements outlined in the NASA Standard. The Standard presents these as General and Detailed requirements.

https://standards.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/standards/A/0/nasa-std-871912a.pdf 

System Safety Process (FAA)

The Federal Aviation Administration outlines and defines what SS is, a few key definitions, objectives, description, hazard identification, risk analysis, risk assessment and decision-making process, validation and control, system modifications (as needed). It should be noted that this document can be used as an outline or guide for the SS process but does not go into depth on the topics listed above.

https://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/alc/libview_normal.aspx?id=6877 

The US Air Force Mishap Prevention Program

This instruction’s main purpose is to ensure the safety of Air Force personnel and their assets. The US Air Force Mishap Prevention Program’s vision is that there will be compliance with all guidelines, risk reduction and continuous improvement.

https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_se/publication/dafi91-202/dafi91-202.pdf 

Space and Missile Systems Center Risk Management Process Guide

The Risk Management Process Guide is designed to be utilized by program personnel assigned to each category in addition to the program risk manager. It is also important to remember that risk management is a job for everyone involved in the program including engineers, action officers, Program managers and everyone in-between, not only the individuals working on a specific aspect of the program.

https://www.dau.edu/sites/default/files/Migrated/CopDocuments/Risk%20Management%20Process%20Guidance%20Version%201%20Final%20S.pdf 

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEFENSE ACQUISITION SYSTEM AND THE ADAPTIVE ACQUISITION FRAMEWORK

This acquisition guidebook is meant to provide in detail the entire acquisition process and framework for the Navy which only mentions system safety once on p.6 when outlining preparation of program documents to include “system safety program to identify Environment, Safety, and Occupational Heath (ESOH) hazards”.

https://www.secnav.navy.mil/doni/Directives/05000%20General%20Management%20Security%20and%20Safety%20Services/05-00%20General%20Admin%20and%20Management%20Support/5000.2G.pdf 

System Safety Engineering (SSE) Manual

This manual’s purpose was to outline how SSE should be integrated into each system throughout their lifecycle. The manual does so by incorporating numerous guidance documents, which should be used from the beginning of a system’s lifecycle through disposal, into one manual for NAVSEA and other appropriate offices/departments on the policies that involve SSE such as ESOH, and risk management.

https://community.apan.org/wg/usdre/se-a/specengr/sse/m/documents/471981 

System Safety Engineering Policy

This instruction is used to outline how to develop a System Safety Program, review policy for NAVSEA, PEOs, CHENG, PM, Principal for Safety (PFS) and other program personnel to ensure fielded systems are safe and following current applicable guidance while implementing & integrating SSE into all phases of the system lifecycle.

https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Portals/103/Documents/NAVINST/05100.021B.pdf 

Operational Risk Management

This instruction describes the Navy-wide use of operational risk management (ORM). The ORM process includes identifying hazards, assessing hazards, making risk decisions, implementing controls, and supervising.

https://www.secnav.navy.mil/doni/Directives/03000%20Naval%20Operations%20and%20Readiness/03-500%20Training%20and%20Readiness%20Services/3500.39D.pdf 

NAVAL SYSCOM RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY

This policy supersedes NAVAIRINST 5000.21A and must be reviewed annually, making changes as needed. The beginning ensures that this policy is compliant with other risk management requirements and begins explaining the circumstances of various terms relating to risk management. The following section delineates actions taken by PEO and systems command (SYSCOM) Commanders, PMs, Risk Management Boards (RMB), IPTs, Technical Authorities. and their responsibilities in the risk management process.

https://www.dau.edu/sites/default/files/Migrated/CopDocuments/Naval%20SYSCOM%20Risk%20Instr%20Signed%2021%20July%202008.pdf 

Risk Management

The PEO Theater Surface Combatant (TSC)’s Risk Management Instruction focuses on defining risk, risk management, PEO TSC Risk Management Program, risk identification, risk characterization and assessment, risk analysis and mitigation, risk tracking and reporting, likelihood of occurrence, consequences of risk, product programs, and mission programs. The procedures concentrate on reporting risk tracking and board membership requirements, which require a government member at a minimum, a representative from ASN (RDA), Chief Engineer (CHENG), and a representative from Defense Systems Management College (DSMC).

https://www.dau.edu/sites/default/files/Migrated/CopDocuments/Larry%20Poh%20PEOTSCINST%203058%201.pdf 

NAVY SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MANUAL 

This manual briefly discusses system safety and risk throughout the entire document but also has Chapter 38 completely dedicated to System Safety. Chapter 38 is broken up into four categories: Discussion and Background, Highlights of System Safety Program, System Safety Working Groups (SSWG)/ Facility System Safety Working Groups (FSSWG). The SS program can help prevent injury, death, illness of personnel while also protecting the systems from adversaries and destruction to ensure a safe and successful mission.

https://www.secnav.navy.mil/doni/SECNAV%20Manuals1/5100.23%20CH-2.pdf 

System Safety and Risk Management 

The CDC uses this document to convey their approach for hazard identification and risk analysis. As previously mentioned in MIL-STD-882E (2012) risk is determined as a function of the probability that a mishap will occur and (should a mishap occur) the impact (in terms of severity level) the mishap would have on system sustainability, survivability, and performance. The guide has 16 lessons beginning with an introduction to SS through various methods of accessing risk utilizing fault, success and even tree analysis, block diagrams, risk assessment matrix, cause-consequence analysis, failure analysis, reliability block diagrams etc. Each section outlines the purpose, description, application, procedures, samples including advantages and limitations of each method that can be used to determine and assess risks and hazards for management to be able to determine if the risk needs to be mitigated or accepted.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/96-37768/default.html 

The Army Safety and Occupational Health Program

This Army regulation recently underwent a major revision, including a title change from the previous title of “The Army Safety Program”. The document reviews the specific responsibilities of from the Secretary of the Army establishing and implementing requirements down to the material developers, acquisition managers, and equipment, process, and facility designers and their contract responsibilities.

https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN34981-AR_385-10-000-WEB-1.pdf 

System Safety Management Guide

This guide consists of eight chapters that include discussions on system safety management, risk and hazards management, integration of system safety associated disciplines, SS for testers and evaluators, weapon SS reviews, facility SS, facility SS program management, and facility SS program contracting.

https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30886-PAM_385-16-000-WEB-1.pdf 

Army Acquisition Policy

This Army Pamphlet, while acquisition focused, is being included in this BoK because it discusses SS throughout multiple sections. SS is first discussed in Section 5 entitled, “Manpower and Personnel Integration/Human Systems Integration”. Under “Manpower and personnel integration considerations” SS is called out to be addressed by MATDEV’s strategy for HSI. Further mentioning of SS provides emphasis on early integration in the acquisition lifecycle.
SS programs will be developed based upon the risk management requirements and document risks by identifying, tracking, managing and mitigating hazards in the Human Systems Integration Plan (HSIP).

https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN11426_DAPam70-3_FINAL.pdf   

Joint Services Weapon and Laser System Safety Review Processes

This instruction is brief, but applies to all weapon and laser systems, except for medical and industrial, legacy systems and joint legacy systems.

https://safety.army.mil/Portals/0/Documents/ON-DUTY/SYSTEMSAFETY/Standard/URE000481-23_Proposed_DoD_Instruction_5000.69_Joint_Services_Weapon_and_Laser_System_Safety_Review_Processes_(signed).pdf 

Joint Software Systems Safety Engineering Handbook (JSSSEH)

JSSSEH is a handbook that is meant to clarify activities such as, design, code, test, independent verification, and validation (IV&V), operation and maintenance, and change control functions within the software engineering development and deployment processes (p.1).

https://ac.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Joint-SW-Systems-Safety-Engineering-Handbook.pdf   

Risk Management Guide for DOD Acquisition, Sixth Edition (Version 1.0)

The Risk Management Guide, which is utilized primarily by the PM, goes further in depth into the common sources of risk, how to identify and analyze risk, implement mitigation strategies and tracking than MIL-STD-882E.

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA470492 

Standard Practice System Safety 

This military standard outlines and defines the general requirements for system safety (SS) processes, approaches, and risks.

https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=36027 

Unmanned System Safety Engineering Precepts Guide for DoD Acquisition

The guide goes over the three safety precepts that are necessary for unmanned systems, programmatic safety precept (PSP), operational safety precept (OSP), and design safety precept (DSP).

https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/UxS-Precepts-2021.pdf 

Value engineering (VE) plays an integral and enduring role in accomplishing DoD's mission to provide the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our nation.  DoD Instruction 4245.14, "DoD Value Engineering (VE) Program," implements 41 USC 1711, "Value Engineering," and Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-131, "Value Engineering," to ensure the "effective administration of the DoD VE Program."

FAR Part 48, "Value Engineering," "prescribes policies and procedures for using and administering value engineering techniques in contracts."

Value Engineering (VE) is an organized, systematic technique that analyzes the functions of systems, equipment, facilities, services, and supplies to ensure they achieve their essential functions at the lowest life-cycle cost consistent with required performance, reliability, quality, and safety. 

The DoD VE program has two elements:

• DoD military and civilian personnel use Value Engineering Proposals (VEPs) to implement change.
• DoD contractors use Value Engineering Change Proposals (VECPs) (required or voluntary) to implement change upon DoD acceptance of the proposal.

Components retain DoD resource benefits resulting from the use of VE.  For those that want to reach out to the broader Value Engineering community and potential commercial certification, see:  https://www.value-eng.org/

For additional information on value engineering tools see the Systems Engineering Guidebook, Section 2.2.7. Value Engineering. This sub-topical area contains information on the use of value engineering in DoD acquisitions. 
 

Idea Generation
 

Selling the VECP

VECP Approval

VECP Settlement

UPCOMING EVENTS

DEVCOM AvMC Value Management Documentation Course scheduled for July 23-25, 2024

All,

The DEVCOM AvMC VE Office at Redstone Arsenal, AL, scheduled a Value Management Documentation Course for July 23rd – 25th (4 hours for 3 days) via TEAMS. This course provides a detailed description of the recommended Government-accepted forms of documentation that capture data from each phase of the Value Methodology Job Plan in a final package by working through project case studies. This course also provides a method to share verified estimated savings and proof of implementation.

To register for the course, reply to this email with your full name, the organization you work for, and the organization you support (if different). This course does not have a registration fee. Government civilian employees will receive 1 CLP for each hour completed, for a maximum of 12 CLPs. Participation by contractors is encouraged.

For organizations that have a training POC who distributes this type of information, please request to share through the organization’s training information distribution system. Also, please forward this email to any individual that may be interested in learning about documenting the Value Methodology.

Class dates/times by time zone:

July 23rd – 25th (4 hours for 3 days) 

@ 0700-1100 PST             

@ 0800-1200 MST

@ 0900-1300 CST

@ 1000-1400 EST

Course Instructors/Moderators:

Toni Hamilton-Datcher, CVS - DEVCOM AvMC VE Office 

Sharon Aldijaili, VMA - SAIC Supporting DEVCOM AvMC VE Office

Leticia Williams - CECOM Value Engineering and LSS Project Lead

We look forward to your reply and please let us know if you have any questions. 

V/r,

Sharon Aldijaili, VMA

SAIC, Supporting DEVCOM AvMC and AMC Value Engineering Offices

Redstone Arsenal, AL

[email protected]
 

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UPDATE 7/17/24: https://www.dau.edu/sites/default/files/webform/documents/26531/VE%20Course%20Flyer_202407016.pdf 

As part of the rollout of DoDI 4245.14, R&E is sponsoring a workshop to develop the OSD implementation strategy for the requirements of the updated DoDI and subsequent updated guidance in SD-24. The workshop will be hosted by USACE the week of 19 AUG 24 in Louisville, KY. Components are encouraged to send representation to participate in strategy development. POC for workshop attendance is Toni Hamilton [[email protected]].

 Details:

Workshop will be held 19-23 August in Louisville, KY and hosted by the Army Corps of Engineers.  Address for the facility is 4803 Olympia Park Plaza, Suite 1000, Louisville, KY 40241-3068.  Seeking participants from the Components and Services to provide implementation considerations and develop a comprehensive strategy for DoDI and SD-24 rollout.  Participation is needed for the full duration.

This workshop will also have a virtual participation option.  Schedule will be 6 hours daily, roughly anticipated as 0900 to 1600 Eastern.  Virtual platform to be provided by workshop facilitator.

**Please note that in person is advantageous to the student and their organization for the direct interaction it provides with inherent learning and retention benefits for many participants, however the remote option is available for this one-time opportunity for Value Engineering training.

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For more information:  https://www.cto.mil/sea/ve/ 

Policy, guidance, and workforce development initiatives for the DoD engineering and technical workforce.

Workforce

The Engineering and Technical Management (ETM) workforce has a vital role in developing, fielding, and sustaining high-quality, innovative, affordable, supportable, and effective defense systems and ensuring that DoD products are delivered on time, perform as expected, and are cost-effective.  Learn more about training and events at https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas/engineering-and-technical-management.

The T&E workforce is responsible for, or is an integral part of, the conceptualization, initiation, design, development, contracting, testing, and evaluation of defense systems across all commodity areas.  Learn more about training and events at https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas/test-and-evaluation.

The OUSD(R&E) partners with the Military Services and defense agencies to ensure the ETM and T&E acquisition workforces are certified, current, qualified, and have the capability and capacity to meet current and future leadership priorities.  Refer to the ETM and T&E information sheets at https://www.cto.mil/sea/info-sheets/ to see a summary of how those efforts help these workforces’ meet challenges in the era of competition.

Workforce – DoD Research & Engineering, OUSD(R&E) (cto.mil)

Policy and Guidance

Policy and guidance and best practices to encourage the use of systems engineering, other engineering disciplines, and standards and specifications for the engineering of defense systems.

The OUSD(R&E) developed and disseminated various policy and guidance and best practices located at Policy and Guidance.  

Additionally, check out the DoD Instruction 5000.97, Digital Engineering information sheet at https://www.cto.mil/sea/info-sheets/ for a summary on how the instruction establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for implementing and using digital engineering in the development and sustainment of systems.

Policy and Workforce is responsible for developing Systems Engineering policy and guidance and disseminating best practices. The following websites provides links to DoD policy and guidance related to defense acquisition systems engineering.

Policy and Guidance

Specialty Engineering 

The impact of specialty engineering activities on total system cost, schedule, and performance will determine the extent of their application during the system design process.  Execution of activities in specialty engineering will, to the largest extent practicable, use information from, and contribute to, the digital authoritative source of truth. (DoDI 5000.88). Specialty Engineering emphasizes improving delivery of advanced capability to warfighters by modernizing reliability and maintainability, manufacturing and quality, system safety, human systems integration, and value engineering practices. 

Reliability and Maintainability

Manufacturing and Quality

System Safety

Human Systems Integration

Value Engineering

Design Considerations
 

The PM, Systems Engineer, and Lead Software Engineer should address and document design considerations, including all statutory and regulatory requirements in order to:

• Translate the end-user desired capabilities into a structured system of interrelated design specifications that support delivery of required operational capability.
• Enable trade-offs among the design considerations in support of achieving desired mission effectiveness within cost and schedule constraints.
• Incorporate design considerations into the set of system requirements, as some are mandated by laws, regulations, or treaties, while others are mandated by the domain or DoD Component or Agency; these mandates should be incorporated during the Requirements Analysis process to achieve balance across all system requirements.
   

The DoD has put additional emphasis on the four Specialty Engineering design considerations as well as Value Engineering identified in the tiles below resulting in development of additional policy (DoDI 5000.88) and additional guidance. Select the tiles below and please refer to Section 5 of the Systems Engineering Guidebook for more information.
 

Defense Standardization Program (DSP)