Publication

This research effort extended previous work to identify the requirements of JPEO-CBRND regarding Digital Engineering Transformation in an Integrated Layered Defense (ILD) context. In particular, the research addressed avenues for JPEO to evaluate their complete portfolio at the enterprise level in order to execute appropriate acquisition decision-making. This research was conducted in two phases. During both phases, the researchers met regularly with the sponsor to continuously discover and address their needs.

In the first phase, the researchers developed an Agent-Based Model (ABM) to simulate a JPEO mission thread related to unmounted reconnaissance and  decontamination of a chemically contaminated site. Input to the ABM came from a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) representation of the JPEO mission thread. The goal of this phase was to increase the researchers’ familiarity with operational procedures at JPEO and to provide a use case to simulate multiple scenarios and support the identification of the best portfolio of technologies to execute a set of missions.

In the second phase, the researchers focused on Advanced Manufacturing, in particular Additive Manufacturing (AM). Currently, there is an army policy directing the consideration and use of Advanced Manufacturing in acquisition activities, as well as an Implementation Guidance from the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)). AM is a field that JPEO has not yet deeply considered. However, JPEO recognizes as a technology that can greatly benefit the organization. In order to include considerations about AM over the entire enterprise portfolio, JPEO must accomplish two functions. First, they must identify which capabilities and technologies in the JPEO portfolio are suitable to be implemented with AM techniques. Second, they must determine how to decide whether AM should be considered together with, or in lieu of, traditional subtractive manufacturing. These two functions became the subject of the second phase of the effort. To address these needs, the researchers proposed both SoS methodologies to analyze stakeholders and requirements at the enterprise level and key points based on use cases from the state-of-the-art in industry, which is useful for AM-specific Cost-Benefit Analysis for acquisition. This research, leveraging previous work both from SERC (SoS methodologies, previous work with JPEO, analysis of AM technologies) and from other research (ABM, literature review of AM state-of-the-art in the industry), resulted in a set of recommendations and lessons learned to guide future effort of JPEO in implementing Digital Engineering (DE) to address an analysis of the enterprise-level technological portfolio.