CONCURRENT ENGINEER (CE)

THE PROPOSAL DESCRIBES A METHOD FOR DEVELOPING A DYNAMIC SIMULATION MODEL OF THE MANAGEMENT DECISION-MAKING PROCESS THAT SUPPORTS THE CONCURRENT ENGINEERING PROCESS. THE MODEL CAN CAPTURE THE COMPLEX TRADEOFF PRESSURES THAT INEVITABLY ARISE AMONG SCHEDULE, BUDGET AND ENGINEERING QUALITY. THE FEEDBACK STRUCTURE THAT UNDERLIES THE DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONTAINS INTERLINKED DECISION FUNCTIONS. COMBINATIONS OF SYSTEM PRESSURES CAN PUSH THESE DECISION FUNCTIONS TOWARD INEFFECTIVE RESPONSES, RESULTING IN MODEL FAITHFULLY REPRODUCES THE CONCURRENT ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT, IT ALLOWS MANAGERS TO CREATE AND TEST ANY NUMBER OF "WHAT-IF" SCENARIOS DESIGNED TO EXPLORE THE CONSEQUENCES OF ALTERNATIVE DECISION CHOICES. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS: SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY PROMISES THREE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS. BY INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MANAGEMENT DECISION-MAKING DARPA WILL (1) REDUCE THE COST OF CONCURRENT ENGINEERING PROGRAMS, (2) INCREASE THE QUALITY OF ENGINEERING PERFORMANCE AND (3) IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AMONG MANAGERS COMPETING FOR ENGINEERING RESOURCES. MANY ENGINEERING COMPANIES WILL DESIRE A DYNAMIC SIMULATION MODEL TO ASSIST IN MANAGING THE TRADEOFFS THAT ARISE DURING COMPLEX DESIGN PROJECTS.