Description
Organization: NAVSEA, PEO (EXW)
Team Name: LPD-17 Test Team
Related Acquisition Topic(s): Business Process Reengineering (BPR), Cycle Time Reduction (CTR), Financial Management, Integrated Product Teams (IPT), Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD)
Description:
Secretary of the Navy Dalton said in April of 1996, "LPD 17 is a first. The Navy is on a frontier of a new way of doing things through teaming with our Industry partners and streamlining the administration and acquisition process." This statement has proven to be true as the LPD 17, the first amphibious ship designed for the 21st Century, continues to be on the leading edge of new product and process innovations in all areas of the acquisition cycle. A new approach to test program coordination and management has been adopted by the LPD 17 Test Team. Current realities such as fiscal constraints, technological leaps, and manpower shortfalls have highlighted the necessity of doing it smarter and getting it right the first time.
The LPD 17 Test Team exemplifies a "new test paradigm". The LPD 17 Test Team melds the traditionally separate test activities of the Government and Shipbuilding Contractor into one coordinated effort while still allowing each to maintain the responsibilities of their respective domains. The entire LPD 17 Team is committed to the planning, design, and delivery of fully tested and operational ships.
For any acquisition test program, there are two principal test philosophies:
In the area of Developmental Testing the LPD 17 Test Team has used a new concept called "Design for Test". This concept assigns the Test Engineers as participating members of the Integrated Product Teams developing the design. These test engineers are referred to as LPD 17 Test Team "Area Coordinators" and will follow their assigned area of design through completion. The Area Coordinators work within the various Integrated Product Teams to influence the ship's design. Early Test Team participation ensured systems were designed to be testable and will support efficient life cycle testing. Requirements will be verified at the earliest possible phase of the test program and any unnecessary redundant testing identified and removed if possible. The Test Team will also strive to optimize the inclusion of Built-in Test (BIT) into system/equipment design.
The LPD 17 Test Team has also placed a renewed emphasis in the area of Factory Testing (FT). FT is being used to validate requirements, identify problems, and minimize redundant shipboard testing. Factory testing is done prior to shipping and includes first article testing, factory acceptance testing, and quality conformance inspection and tests. Verifying performance, stability and suitability of a piece of equipment prior to leaving a manufacturer's location will provide for substantial cost avoidance in schedule and time. Equipment can now be corrected at the location of the system experts at the first level of testing.
A key element of the approach to LPD 17 total ship testing is extensive use of Design Integration Testing in a Land-Based Test Environment (LBTE) to evaluate and validate system interfaces and to verify system integration prior to shipboard installation and testing. This test concept assists in identification and resolution of problems early in the program, thereby reducing risks and their impacts on shipboard testing. The LBTE is comprised of a network of Contractor and Government Test and Integration Facilities linked via commercial network infrastructure and referred to collectively as the Alliance Test Network (ATN). The ATN provides connectivity among test sites to maintain a seamless interface among remotely located subsystems and the capability to continue testing throughout the entire ship construction period. This network was stood up over a year ahead of schedule and is already paying benefit as an early integration vehicle thus reducing integration risk.
Design Integration Test (DIT) is a tri-level testing process of selected combat and electronic systems to verify software/system integration prior to installation aboard LPD 17. DIT is accomplished in three levels: individual systems, groups of systems referred to as System Test Groups, and as a single ship system. Testing system interoperability performance and design development of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Contractor Furnished Equipment (CFE) is the goal. The ATN is an essential element of DIT and has been successful to date in supporting early integration efforts among the various contractor development sites. By ensuring software integration prior to shipboard installation, cost increases typically caused by incompatable Computer Software Configuration Items (CSCIs) will be avoided.
The LPD 17 Test Team pulled forward Operational Test requirements in a concept called "Continuous Operational Assessment". This concept emphasizes operational considerations as part of the ship design process. Significant benefits continue to be derived from early "Operational Tester" involvement in the program. Potential problems in ship design and construction from the Operator's viewpoint have been identified early in the design process and are being eliminated thus avoiding rework associated with these type of changes. The team accomplished this through the use of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR) to conduct Operational Assessments as part of the design cycle. Areas of potential risk were identified and corrections to deficiencies developed and incorporated. Using this approach, the program significantly reduced risk and total ownership costs. Required costly rework will also be avoided.
The LPD 17 Test Team has taken testing to a new and reformed way of doing business and is most deserving of this prestigious award.
