DMSMS Considerations and Manufacturing Readiness Levels

Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRLs) provide a standard set of criteria for measuring the manufacturing readiness for, or conversely, the manufacturing risk posed to a system under development in a defense acquisition program. The existence of diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages (DMSMS) issues can impact the manufacturing readiness for a system. Given this linkage between DMSMS issues and manufacturing readiness, how well do the MRLs consider DMSMS issues as a factor that contributes to manufacturing risk? This presentation will describe an effort that reviewed the MRL criteria and its corresponding User’s Guide to: — Identify existing DMSMS-related material. — Recommend the insertion of additional DMSMS-related material. The inclusion of this additional DMSMS-related material within the MRL criteria and corresponding User’s Guide would ensure program offices adequately consider DMSMS management and DMSMS issues in assessing the manufacturing readiness of their systems.