Original Date: 09/14/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Raytheon Missile Systems Company (RMSC) developed the Lay a Missile on the Table (LAMOTT) process for the rapid development of a functional missile, prior to the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of the DOD acquisition process. The goal was to make a first missile with a functional guidance system in less than a year. This would produce a 300% decrease in development cycle time for this type of product technology and design maturity.

In the course of its successful effort, RMSC demonstrated its plan to convert to an agile manufacturing strategy by employing such practices as the General Motors Powertrain Group’s methodology and training, material flow through a certified supplier chain, parts delivery directly to the area of use, and supplier process control. The company also displayed cost credibility through the use of actual factory processes (versus conventional prototyping shop) in building three missiles and verifying producibility assumptions. Methods for achieving cost reduction, a driving factor in the government’s Request for Proposal, were done through many methods such as using inexpensive components (e.g., PEMs); simplifying mechanical designs; performing process designs for best commercial practice/standards; and implementing a flowdown of acquisition reform concepts to suppliers.

By using LAMOTT, RMSC demonstrated the maturity of its technology and process methodologies in its proposal for the AIM-9X missile. This technique offers users the potential to gain detailed design and manufacturing information much earlier than with conventional methods, and provides an opportunity to accelerate/reduce the Engineering and Manufacturing Development schedule. LAMOTT also provides earlier credible cost proposal data and design-to-cost predictions; helps early identification and mitigation; and allows suppliers to be involved in the design process.

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