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Original Date: 04/26/1999
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Information : Collaborative Engineering Center
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) set up the Collaborative Engineering Center (CEC) as a way to improve quality and reduce the cost of its proposals and pre-projects. By using the CEC’s engineering processes, the design team determines the composition and cost of a space mission’s proposal development.
The CEC’s engineering process differs fundamentally from traditional aerospace design processes. Using the CEC’s networked tools and databases, the design team obtains the necessary supporting information to make immediate design decisions. Next, the team develops the conceptual mission design and associated costs during three-hour, team design sessions. A minimum of two sessions is required to design and cost a mission concept. Figure 2-1 shows how a baseline assessment (proven technology) is reduced in cost and advanced in technology by using a systematic process of technology insertions.
Since implementing the CEC’s capabilities, MSFC has significantly reduced the cycle time for early design concepts while achieving more design iterations and identifying lower cost systems. Many benefits from the concurrent engineering process are a result of using a standing design team one team designs many missions. In FY98, this team completed 57 studies, thereby providing many opportunities for the team to work together through a well-honed process.
Figure 2-1. Technology Assessment (Bantam) - Phase 1
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