Abstract
The system design trade study process was investigated to determine the feasibility of including human resources data. First, 61 completed trade studies from aeronautical, missile, and command and control systems were analyzed to determine the characteristics of trade studies. Then, four simulated trade studies containing engineering and human resources data and representing flight control and avionics subsystems were constructed for experimental use. Seventy-two experienced design engineers performed the simulated trade studies.
It was found that engineers can and do use human resources data in system design trade studies. Personnel costs and quantities are assigned more weight than skill types, skill levels, and availability of personnel. A detailed presentation of human resources data is given more weight than a condensed presentation. Four major sources of variability in trade study results were found. These are: choice of parameters, weighting factors for the parameters, methods of normalizing the parametric data, and methods of combining parametric data and weighting factors. Standardization of trade study methods is recommended to help overcome this variability.
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