Original Date: 07/08/2002
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

The Directorate for Missiles and Surface Launchers Program Management Office is co-located with its prime contractor, Raytheon, in Raytheon office space. This arrangement has been extended to the Raytheon production facilities in Tucson, Arizona by establishing the Technical Representative Office, which acts as the Directorate’s Production Agent.

The Directorate for Missiles and Surface Launchers (PEO TSC-M/L) Program Management Office is co-located with its prime contractor, Raytheon, in Raytheon office space. This arrangement improves communication between the government and the prime contractor which indicates the commitment to each other for a long-term business/teaming relationship, and allows resources to be applied to a shared vision. This arrangement has been extended to the Raytheon production facilities in Tucson, Arizona by establishing the Technical Representative (TechRep) Office.

The TechRep Office existed in various forms over the years, but by 1999 was severely diminished in its role and benefit to PEO TSC-M/L. The PEO TSC-M/L chartered a team to reinvigorate the TechRep role as the Program Manager’s representative at the production site. The TechRep Office now acts as PEO TSC-M/L’s Production Agent and its goals are to facilitate better communication across the STANDARD Missile (SM) product lines; interact with Integrated Process Team (IPT) representatives within other Tucson programs; provide timely and thorough technical information exchange and decision making; and improve interactions between Raytheon and all other government activities.

The TechRep Office has become a robust organization able to work across SM programs with insight into both PEO TSC-M/L’s and Raytheon’s processes, programs, and personnel to improve execution of PEO TSC-M/L’s work. It is aligned with the new PEO TSC-M/L culture of sharing information and joint government and contractor success, as shown in Figure 2-4.

There have been many benefits. The TechRep is a dedicated technical authority empowered by PEO TSC-M/L to make technical decisions and recommendations, which speeds decisions and improves communication. The TechRep expertise is used real time to resolve issues across all programs and to surface major problems to PEO TSC-M/L for early resolution from overall programmatic perspective. The TechRep insight into contractor processes and program execution makes PEO TSC-M/L a better buyer and likewise, its understanding of government processes enables it to remove roadblocks into which the contractor has no insight. The programs also have seen better control of government-owned materials and furnished equipment. Additional benefits include reduced flight test risks through direct involvement; more effective planning for tests and Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs); improved supplier visits; wider government participation; production tracking across programs; enhanced reporting with greater insight; and better team work.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.