The Cargo Helicopter PMO environment is a typical high-visibility, rapid fielding DoD government acquisition organization; our process, while repeatable, only deals with “custom” articles whose lead time is 18+ months per item. In six months the Cargo PM team successfully reduced the average late response rate of date deliverables and captured a one-time cost avoidance. Lateness of responses causes delays in testing efforts, suspension of sub-contractor production, and impedes acquisition of long-lead items. This has a domino effect, slipping an already tight production and fielding schedule of a critical wartime asset. Several challenges the team faced included the installation of a new integrated software system to manage data deliverables; regulatory requirements to operate within strict DoD Acquisition processes and guidelines; an out-of-date, but DoD-mandated form; the need of an organizational Standard Operating Procedure (SOP); and the lack of an effective means of status to the management.
|
