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Original Date: 05/08/1995
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Information : Baseline Comparison System
McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA)-St. Louis’ Baseline Comparison System (BCS) is a set of current operational systems/equipment, or a composite set of current operational systems/equipment, which most closely represents the design, operational, and support characteristics of a proposed system/equipment under development. The BCS defines a quantitative performance baseline and a problem set from which performance projections for systems/equipment can be made. Development of the BCS data requires the participation of multiple functional areas. Multiple BCSs may be developed to support each alternative considered during concept exploration or during trade-off analysis.
The BCS provides a convenient methodology to aggregate data. Once the data is accumulated, the BCS can be used as a starting point for any subsequent study or analysis. The BCS ensures that everyone is using the same set of data when considering alternatives. It contains the system/equipment requirements, description, operating environment, functional block diagram, and preliminary maintenance concept. BCSs are evaluated to determine the best possible match to the critical characteristics of the system/equipment. Any similarities, differences, risks, and assumptions are documented. Reliability and maintainability, qualitative and quantitative data, readiness values, testability values, environmental hazards, hazardous materials, health hazards, ILS resource requirements, operational and support cost data, qualitative supportability problems, applicable lessons learned, and supportability, cost and readiness drivers are also documented.
Once the data is developed, it is adjusted to reflect the operational environment. The adjusted data is then used as a point of departure for the development of design requirements and projections for the system/equipment baseline.
The BCS is a well organized system that helps ensure that all of the proper considerations and trade-offs have been evaluated in a proposed system or equipment under development, minimizing surprises later in the development cycle.
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