Support to the Warfighter: Can Industry Do Better?

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Support to the Warfighter Can Industry Do
Better? 25 August, 2005 Strengthening the
Government-Industry Partnership
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Why Are We Here

• This is Industrys chance to identify changes to
  facilitate their support to the warfighter
• This is the Governments chance to identify
  Industry actions that would improve supporting
  the warfighter

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Issue 1 Are Government requirements clearly
articulated for Industry action?

• Findings
• - Support to warfighter is key but the
  warfighter may not know / may not be able to
  articulate their requirement
• - Situation and requirements will change by
  the time metal bending begins and when the
  product is delivered
• Observations
• - Acquisition system needs to be responsive
• - Spiral development plug and play can
  contribute
• - Possibilities Flexible contract vehicles
  more application of NRO processes/best practices
  commercial practices
• - Industry has responsibility to discover/flesh
  out needs provide solutions

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Issue 2 Are we flexible enough to respond to
needs of warfighter?

• Findings
• - Different systems prevent interoperability
• - System Engineer process essential (CDD ?
  System Spec)
• - Requirements traceability must work both ways
• Observations
• - Need common set of processes/standards
• - Need forums to facilitate govt / industry
  interaction
• - Goal is to facilitate Joint and foreign
  warfighter support

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Issue 3 Are we too focused on Systems vs
Solutions? (What are we doing to
suppress/address User/Operator requirements/needs)

• Findings
• - Industry focused on profit/fee
• - Customer needs more non materiel solutions
• - Everything has to have a Joint focus
• Observations
• - Industry fact of life is making money and
  satisfying shareholders
• - More analysis now required by Government
  due to JCIDS process Not a timely process
• - Multiple Phase A study contracts followed
  by down select and development can help

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Issue 4 How to get from an Idea to execution
more innovation/demos/experiments

• Findings
• - Limited contractor investment funds
  expensive ?payoff
• - ATD/ACTD/TTI/Rapid acquisition program
  exist
• - Need more process for transition to dev
  programs
• - Government wants something but Industry
  solution may not be what is neededIndustry
  cant do this alone
• Observations
• - Industry and govt need to interact on
  requirements for future solutions/current needs
• - Need more government funded IRD/CRAD
• - More Joint Experimentation
• - More extensive use of Battlelabs