Original Date: 02/26/2001
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

General Dynamics Armament Systems employs a Design-for-Producibility approach for its Advance Manufacturing Engineering Producibility function. This producibility approach focuses on up-front involvement in the design phase of product development, enabling the company to mitigate producibility risks via timely influence on design and concurrent development of manufacturing processes.

Previously, General Dynamics Armament Systems (GDAS) used a reactive Make-to-Print producibility method. Today, the company employs a Design-for-Producibility approach for its Advance Manufacturing Engineering Producibility function. With this proactive approach, producibility is an integral part of the concept/proposal phases as well as the engineering design effort. Producibility is recognized as a key metric of product design success. The need for innovative manufacturing processes is identified as early as possible and developed concurrently with the product design. Trade studies are also conducted to ensure that the proposed manufacturing processes will satisfy design requirements. This early influence promotes a design approach that ensures manufacturing success and competitive costs.

With GDAS’ evolution to a systems integration business model, effective and early producibility involvement with the strategic supplier base has been essential. Early involvement ensures the appropriate match of design requirements to supplier process capabilities. GDAS provides early producibility expertise to suppliers to mitigate assessed producibility risks. By bringing the resources of a large corporation to the efficiencies of a smaller organization, GDAS creates a win-win synergy. The Design-for-Producibility approach also fosters cooperation and partnering with suppliers, resulting in few producibility-based changes after initial production starts.

The Design-for-Producibility approach is critical as GDAS evolves to a systems integration business model. The approach helps ensure manufacturing success and competitive costs in the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Producibility function. Since being implemented, the Design-for-Producibility has yielded product designs and manufacturing processes that have decreased costs and reduced concept-to-build cycle times.

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