Despite some positive developments in implementing an open systems approach to product development, congressional investigators found that the Defense Department faces several challenges, namely a preference to purchase proprietary systems.
In the report released June 26, the Government Accountability Office said the DoD in recent years has stressed using an open systems approach in product designs of weapons acquisition programs – where feasible and cost effective. This approach uses a modular design and widely supported standards that could provide significant benefits such as better repairs and upgrades and increased competition, resulting in considerable savings.
In fact, the Navy has made “the greatest strides” in institutionalizing the approach for a number of its programs, including three unmanned aircraft systems, the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and a replacement presidential helicopter, according to the report. The Air Force and Army are also using an open systems approach but in a more ad hoc manner.
However, GAO pointed out that there’s a “general cultural preference” to acquire proprietary systems of contractors who then typically get to make the major decisions regarding the life of the system.
“Those contractors, therefore, benefit from maintaining the status quo with respect to long-term weapon system sustainment, the report said. “Although new open systems guidance, tools, and training are being developed, DOD is not tracking the extent to which programs are implementing this approach or if programs have the requisite expertise to implement the approach.”
The report actually focused on how private industry is using the open systems approach and how their best practices can be applied.
GAO interviewed representatives from BP, Chevron, DreamHammer and Iridium based on their recent implementations using the approach. The agency also interviewed officials from standards organizations and academia and conducted literature reviews.
The companies’ representatives said the approach helped reduce product development time and life-cycle costs, enhance competition and innovation, and enable interoperability among systems from different vendors.
For example, satellite voice and data provider Iridium expanded its customer base by shifting from a proprietary service offering to a model in which partner companies can access Iridium’s satellite communications network through commercially available modular components with open interfaces, the report said. As a result, the company has seen greater innovation and revenues.
The report pointed out several common practices that are helping industry achieve success through the open systems approach. They include a long-term commitment to develop, implement, test and improve standards, technical expertise to identify system components that should be designed using open standards and interfaces, and knowledge sharing across the board.
While DoD has not implemented the recommendations that were actually made in a prior July 2013 report and reiterated in this one, GAO said they’re still applicable.
Source: Fierce Government