Program Management Process

Program management is an orderly progression through predefined project phases. DCA will assess the project's scope and will scale the oversight level of effort appropriately for your project's size. The documents listed in the following sections can range in size from a single drawing with descriptive text to a full-blown IEEE 730 suite of hardware and software documents. The review meetings can be simple phone conversations with a follow up e-mails or a formal gathering with detailed agenda and action items. In all cases DCA will ensure that a complete document trail exists.

Requirement Management

Most projects fail because of poorly defined goals that encourage "scope creep". "Nice To Haves" and preferential engineering increase the size and complexity of the project until it collapses under its own weight. DCA's proven methodology will ensure that this will not happen to your project.

Requirement Definition - "The Spec"

The most critical aspect of any project is a clear specification or statement of work. DCA can take fragmented concepts and tie them into a cohesive picture of the overall requirement. This document(s) becomes the foundation upon which everything else is built.

System Functional Description (SFD)

The System Functional Description (SFD) is the document that provides details for the electrical, mechanical and operational properties of the system. This is a living document that evolves through the phases of the project.

A compliance matrix is reference listing for each specified requirement and its corresponding mitigation. DCA will ensure that there is a complete cross-reference between the specification and the SFD.

Project Phases

The project phases are best described by the corresponding design review that ends each phase.

Advanced Design or Concept Review

The first design review is conducted concurrent with the contract award. This review shall confirm that all parties have the same understanding of the specification and the issues that are still to be resolved in the later stages.

Preliminary Design Review

The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) is also known as the Paper Design Review. The SFD's structure is complete and all of the major features are clearly described. The number of, and format for, all supporting documents and drawings are defined.

Critical or Final Design Review

At this stage engineering level tests on representative prototypes will have eliminated the technical risks. All documents have been completed, reviewed and approved.

Qualification Testing and Demonstrations

The requirements identified in the Compliance Matrix that need quantitative test results will have a written test qualification test procedure. The test procedure and the pass/fail criteria are to be approved prior to conducting the tests. DCA has the experience and expertise to prepare the procedures and conduct the testing or review procedures and test results depending upon your organization's needs.

First Article Inspection

The first items produced using the new materials and assembly processes shall be inspected for form, fit and functional compliance with the design documentation and specification. Any discrepancies will be noted as action items with the person or organization responsible for its resolution clearly indicated. Customer approval of the FAI is normally required before initiating volume production.

Pre-Shipping Inspections

Many contracts stipulate a formal inspection of each item prior to delivery. These pre-shipping inspections (PSI's) will verify the routine test results, the fit and appearance of the production items.