Standardization

Overview

Standardization supports the achievement of commonality and interoperability of parts and processes with United States forces and our allies, promotes safety, provides for life-cycle sustainment and allows for rapid, cost-effective technology insertion through use of standard interfaces and open systems. Standardization is an enabling tool to provide the warfighter with systems and equipment that are interoperable, reliable, sustainable and affordable. Standardization plays a key role in defining systems engineering (SE) best practices and processes.

The Program Manager (PM) balances the decision to use standardized agreements, Non-Government Standard (NGS) practices, products, parts, processes, interfaces and methods with required capabilities, operational environment, technology feasibility and growth and cost-effectiveness.

DoDM 4120.24, Enclosure 4, Standardization in the Acquisition Process, provides policies on standardization considerations, how to document standardization decisions, and a discussion of the tailoring of standardization documents. It also provides references to key resources for the standardization process.

DoDI 5000.88, Section 3.6.f requires PMs to use a parts management process for the selection of parts during design to consider the life cycle application stresses, standardization, technology (e.g., new and aging), reliability, maintainability, supportability, life cycle cost, and DMSMS.

In addition, parts management can enhance the reliability of the system and mitigate Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) issues. MIL-STD-11991 (General Standard for Parts, Materials, and Processes) and the SD-19 Parts Management Guide indicate that program offices should apply standardization processes to:

• Reducing the number of unique or specialized parts used in a system (or across systems).
• Reducing the logistics footprint.
• Lowering life-cycle costs.

In addition, parts management can enhance the reliability of the system and mitigate part obsolescence due to Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS). MIL-STD-3018 (Parts Management) dictates that program offices should apply standardization processes to:

• Improve parts commonality.
• Reduce total ownership costs.
• Reduce proliferation of parts.
• Promote the use of parts with acceptable performance, quality, and reliability.

Role of the SE

The Systems Engineer is responsible for:

• Implementing parts management contractual requirements.
• Approving contractor submitted plans.
• Ensuring parts management objectives are met.

Products and Tasks

Product

Tasks

10-21-1: Document parts management standardization

Identify standardization requirements in accordance with applicable guidance. Document serialized item management requirements in system and item performance specifications in accordance with DoDI 4151.19. Document parts management requirements in the contract documentation in accordance with applicable guidance, and verify incorporation in sub-vendor documentation. Evaluate contractor parts managements plan in accordance with applicable guidance. Determine parts management methods and objectives in accordance with applicable guidance. When implementing radio frequency identification (RFID), conform to international organization for standardization (ISO) 15418 and ISO 15434 for data syntax and semantics. Document parts management standardization in design considerations matrix.

Source: AWQI eWorkbook

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Resources

Key terms

• Bills of Material (BOM) for DMSMS
• De Facto Standards
• Defense Information Technology Standards Registry
• Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS)
• ???Military Standard
• NATO Standardization Agreement
• Open Standards
• Parts Management
• Product Support ??? Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) and Data Item Descriptions (DID)
• Standard Data
• Standardization
• Standards
• Standards Viewpoint

Source:
DAU ACQuipedia
DAU Glossary

Policy and Guidance

• DoDI 4120.24, Defense Standardization Program (DSP)
• DoDI 5000.88Engineering of Defense Systems, Section 3.6.f. Parts Management and Section 3.7.f. Standardization
• DoDM 4120.24, Defense Standardization Program (DSP) Procedures, Enclosure 4, Standardization in the Acquisition Process
• MIL-STD-11991, General Standard for Parts, Materials, and Processes
• SD-19, Parts Management Guide
• Systems Engineering (SE) Guidebook, 5.20 Standardization
• OUSD(R&E) SE&A page

Media

• Defense Standardization Program (DSP) Video Insights

DAU Training Courses

• ETM 1050: Design Considerations Fundamentals Lesson 21 Standardization
• CLE 064: Standardization in the Acquisition Life Cycle
• CLE 065: Standardization Documents
• LOG 0580: Standards, Specifications & Technical Publications
• WSE 023: Defense Standardization Workshop