Combat Vehicle Programs: Product Development (PD) Resilience through Set-Based Design Application

Product development (PD) can be a challenging and unpredictable process, especially when it involves complex and highly engineered programs like those within the Department of Defense (DoD). Traditionally, PD systems have relied on a point-solution design (PSD) approach, which focuses on quickly selecting and pursuing a single solution. While this approach has been widely used, it limits the program's resilience to changes in requirements and the availability of subsystems or components. To address these limitations, an alternative approach known as set-based design (SBD) has been proposed. While some studies have explored the benefits of SBD, there is currently no effective, scalable, and commercial SBD decision support platform that can guide program management and development with multi-stage and multi-criteria considerations. In response to this gap, this Phase II Sequential proposal seeks to develop and deploy a digital decision intelligence platform for Resilient Program Management & Development (RPMD) in collaboration with the DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) and PEO Ground Combat Systems (GCS). The proposed platform aims to enable the core tenets and process elements of SBD within a digital ecosystem, powered by modern decision analytics, intuitive workflows, effective controls, and proper knowledge management. By doing so, it can help to improve program resiliency, manage risks and uncertainties, and enhance cost efficiency and program success. The platform's development, refinement, and deployment will be the core focus of the project. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to realize the full potential of SBD for product development, benefitting the Army, the DoD, and commercial firms alike. By enabling a more effective and scalable approach to PD, the RPMD platform has the potential to drive innovation, accelerate time to market, and improve the performance and reliability of complex systems.