AN OPTIMIZED APPROACH FOR QUALITY, SAFETY AND RELIABILITY, W.R.T. PROGRAMME SCHEDULE AND COST REDUCTION

摘要

Starting from the usual space management and product assurance rules, the proposed approach . leads to a sensitive cost reduction, while keeping a satisfactory level, in order to develop and deliver rapidly an adequate product, and to ensure fitness for a successful mission. The main conditions which can contribute to schedule and cost reduction with no degradation of quality level can be summarized as follows: 1. the determination of customer, for a realistic, restricted and consistent set of requirements and for adjusted project control methods, 2. the contractors technical background, leading to cost and schedule reductions, using "off the shelf subassemblies or equipment and tailored methods w.r.t. technical choices and development, verification and qualification tests. The main approach features for management and design are described, including concurrent engineering, short cycle decision paths, permanent involvement of customer, tasks distribution and co-ordination with subcontractors, robustness using large design margins, influence on the actual problems,.. Then, emphasis is put on the related quality, safety and reliability approaches, in order to give outlines on the related drivers to efficiency, i.e. as main issues: 1. requirements assessment and related program risks assessment, 2. reuse of existing architecture or equipment and associated data, 3. tailored investigations focused on significant items in the field of reviews, reliability and safety aspects, equipment qualification status, material and EEE parts, radiation susceptibility, non conformance process, ... Finally, the example of the Atmospheric Re-entry Demonstrator (ARD) development is given as an illustration of the adequacy of such an approach, emphasizing attached benefits, drawbacks and important features.