1 MRL Assist Tool Website Access the MRL Assist Tool at

2 MRL Executive Tool (MRL Assist) What It Is A Web-Based Tool For Executives, Managers, and IPTs A Series of “Nested” Questions to Determine the Relative Maturity of a Manufacturing System A Tool With “Look Up” and “Drill Down” Linkages to Maintain Focus on Manufacturing Risks An Aid For Identifying Manufacturing Risks, and Mitigation Efforts A Tool for Assisting Programs in Conducting Manufacturing Readiness Assessments What It Is Not An “MRL Calculator” A Replacement for Experienced Manufacturing Personnel A “Quick Fix” for the DAB A Substitute for Sound Manufacturing Management An Automated MRA

3 MRL Relationship To System Acquisition Milestones MRL Assist Contains a Separate Set of Questions for Each Phase Defense Acquisition Life Cycle Framework A Concept Refinement System Development and Demonstration Production and Deployment Operations and Support FRP Decision Review Design Readiness Review Technology Development Concept Decision BC Component System Technology Readiness Levels TRL 4 TRL 5 TRL 6 TRL 7TRL 8 TRL Basic Principles Observed Manufacturing Readiness Levels MRL 4 Lab Environment MRL 5 Relevant Environment MRL 6 Production Representative Environment MRL 7 Mature for LRIP MRL 8 LRIP MRL 9 FRP MRL 10 Lean Production Mission Proven System Qualification Prototype in Ops Environment Prototype in Rep Environment Breadboard in Rep Environment Breadboard in Lab Proof of Concept Formulated Basic Principles Observed

4 MRL Threads Technology and Industrial Base Design Materials Cost and Funding Process Capability and Control Quality Management Manufacturing Personnel Facilities Manufacturing Management

5 Executive Level Questions (“Do you have…?”) Mid Level Management/Functional Level (“What is it – process, purpose?”) Working/Expert Level (“How is it accomplished?”) Questions are related in a database Drill up and down capability Web enabled Tailored to specific program and phase Question Hierarchy

6 MRL Executive Level Tool (MRL ASSIST) Knowledgebase Question “Drill-Down” Example (MRL 7) Thread #5 – “Process Capability and Control” Executive- Level Question: 5.2 Does the Program have a Variation and Variability Reduction Plan? Program Manager – Level Questions: Have all critical manufacturing processes been characterized in a factory environment? Have key characteristics and process capability indexes been documented? Have initial Sigma levels and variation/variability efforts been documented? Have yield improvements been initiated as necessary? Will yield data be gathered on the pilot line build? IPT Lead-Level Questions: Have initial production line simulation models been developed? Will simulation models be used to determine bottlenecks and improve processes? Have analyses of assembly methods been performed in a relevant manufacturing environment? Will all assembly methods be developed, documented and verified on the pilot line? Have process requirements been proven and validated in a relevant manufacturing environment? Have required Manufacturing Technology initiatives been developed? Has the plan been completed to implement tooling? Will the pilot line be developed and proven out using hard tooling? Has the automated STE implementation plan been completed? Will the pilot line be developed and proven out with STE?

7 MRL Assist Features Self Managing Shared Access for Geographically Dispersed Teams Scalable and Tailorable for Individual Program Needs Reporting Features “Open” and “Closed” Groups Password Protected, 128 bit Encryption

8 MRL Resources DoD Manufacturing Technology web site - MRA link to DAU CoP - Contains Manufacturing Readiness Level Definitions, MRLs and Assessments Guides, and Manufacturing Readiness Tutorial TRA Deskbook - MRLs contained in Appendix I DAU PQM Community of Practice - Manufacturing Readiness folder - MRLs, Questions, Exit Criteria, Tutorial Best Manufacturing Practices Center of Excellence - MRL Assist web-based tool

9 MRL Resources Best Manufacturing Practices Center of Excellence - MRL Assist web-based tool BMPCOE 24 Hour Assistance