Munro & Associates Unveils Producibility Modeling Tool, AP Roadmap, at the 2011 Defense Manufacturing Conference

TROY, Mich., Nov. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To help the defense industry dramatically reduce the cost of weapon systems, Munro & Associates, Inc. will debut its Affordability & Producibility (AP) Roadmap, an educational guide for the application of producibility modeling on defense programs, at the 2011 Defense Manufacturing Conference (DMC) held at the Anaheim Convention Center from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1.

During the conference, Munro & Associates will be providing, at no charge, the AP Roadmap at the company's booth (#123).

To demonstrate the benefits of producibility modeling, Joe Feord, vice president of business development, Munro & Associates, will present the "DMS&T Project: Producibility Modeling during the Acquisition Process for Cost and Complexity Reduction." Feord is slated to speak during the DMC's Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise Session on Wednesday Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. In the session, he will offer a detailed analysis of the proper implementation, outcomes and potential benefits of employing predictive modeling and software.

"The AP Roadmap is a tool specifically designed to promote knowledge, use and application of producibility modeling throughout the defense industrial community," Feord said. "Reducing the cost of weapon systems has been mandated by the highest office in the DOD. A key way to accomplish that is by applying modeling and simulation tools like the AP Roadmap to analyze production concerns early in the design process where the majority of manufacturing costs are determined."

In his presentation, Feord will discuss the value of using producibility modeling software early in the acquisition cycle for cost savings and speed of technology transition. During its Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science & Technology (DMS&T) project, Munro employed its Design Profit® producibility modeling software to develop: variations of a design; customized formulas; a Producibility Confidence Index to help drive design decisions; and guidance on how producibility modeling can be used through the acquisition process.

"The outcome was really extraordinary," Feord said. "Using the Design Profit software, we were able to decrease a generator system controller's size by 45 percent and reduce overall complexity by eliminating unneeded components, housings and functionalities. In the end, we developed a new, producible design that would reduce total cost by 63 percent."

About the AP Roadmap
Funded in part under the Office of the Secretary of Defense Mantech DMS&T project, "Producibility Modeling During that Acquisition Process for Cost and Complexity Reduction," the AP Roadmap promotes the use of producibility modeling to enable rapid quantification of alternative solutions to improve readiness and affordability in defense programs. The succinct guide provides standardized guidance across all agencies, contractors and defense systems programs, and consists of the following:

• An overview on the definition of producibility modeling;
• Information on how to apply and use producibility modeling at various points throughout an acquisition program;
• Guidance on what data is needed at various decision points throughout the 5000.02 acquisition process; and
• Project tracking to measure your team's progress relative to the 5000.02 process.

About Munro & Associates
Founded in 1988, Munro & Associates Inc. is a world class engineering consulting firm based in Troy, Mich. with offices in Europe, Canada, Australia and Asia. The firm specializes in upfront, predictive methods to increase profitability by improving quality, reliability and value, while reducing total lifecycle costs. The Munro team delivers in-depth knowledge in product design, manufacturing, quality and technologies from a broad selection of industries.

Munro's diverse customer list includes: Abbott Laboratories; ATK; Bentley; Boeing; Cardinal Health; Caterpillar; Chrysler; General Dynamics; Hussmann Corp.; Lockheed Martin; Medtronic, Inc.; Nikon; Raytheon; Rolls Royce; Rubbermaid; TACOM LCMC; Tata Motors and more. For more information, visit www.leandesign.com.

SOURCE Munro & Associates