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Original Date: 07/08/2002
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Best Practice : Technical Risk Identification and Mitigation System
The Directorate for Missiles and Surface Launchers implemented the Technical Risk Identification and Mitigation System to assist in identifying, reviewing, and mitigating risks associated with the transition from system development to production. This methodology and toolset provide a disciplined, thorough, and systematic approach to risk identification.
In the mid-1990s, the Directorate for Missiles and Surface Launchers (PEO TSC-M/L) implemented the Technical Risk Identification and Mitigation System (TRIMS) to enhance the STANDARD Missile-2 (SM-2) Block IVA and STANDARD Missile-3 (SM-3) risk management program. Prior to using TRIMS, PEO TSC-M/L relied solely on the standard contractor-developed risk management process. The contractor risk management process provided a good tool for tracking risk areas, but fell short of a true risk management system capable of identifying risk areas, managing the mitigation of risks, accessing templates and best practices, and providing predictive visibility. The contractor risk management process focused primarily on the product/technical risk associated with program development. The TRIMS methodology and toolset provided a more robust and holistic view of program risk issues by focusing on systems engineering processes. This different focus contributed significantly to the identification of new risk issues for the SM-2 Block IVA program. A full 50 percent of the high- to moderate-risk issues, and their probability of occurrence and the potential severity of consequence, were identified by TRIMS assessments (Figure 2-5). The TRIMS assessment identified three high-risk issues that were previously not identified by the contractor risk management system.
TRIMS is a disciplined process for continuously examining program elements and identifying new risk issues that need to be managed. The TRIMS methodology and toolset are comprised of critical path risk templates (Figure 2-6), which provide a series of program elements that assist in identifying potential program risk factors. Seven hundred questions in 70 templates covering the entire systems engineering process provide the basis for program risk assessment. TRIMS questions can be tailored and, in the case of PEO TSC-M/L, the questions were tailored specifically to the SM-2 Block IVA program. The TRIMS toolset allows a detailed drill-down into the templates, and prompts questions specific to that program element. Similarly, the SM-3 program further instituted the TRIMS methodology and toolset, resulting in a rigorous and effective risk management process.
The TRIMS-based process supplements the existing contractor risk management process and provides the following distinct advantages:
Detailed, tangible, tailored questions and templates
Systems engineering process focus
Broad, thorough scope of program elements
Impetus to periodically/continuously look for risk and reassess risk
Database/template of best practices to benchmark
Objective, repetitive criteria
De-facto training and education of contractor management
As a result of TRIMS-based risk identification, PEO TSC-M/L implemented significant actions aimed at mitigating risk to the program. Among the actions taken were the new adjunct sensors redesign, more rigorous producibility analysis across SM, new test equipment, emphasis and improvements in sub-contract management processes, and the establishment of an Independent Software Engineering Team to address software risks. Prior to the TRIMS implementation, software was not even identified as a risk issue for the program, but has proved to be a major focus area. The TRIMS methodology and toolset provide a proactive approach to risk management by actively engaging program elements and uncovering risk issues early in the development cycle.
Figure 2-5. Risk Issues Identified by TRIMS
Figure 2-6. Critical Path Risk Templates
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