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MASAD-82-38 1 (1982-08-06)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabmnv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: - - z UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE /?)i CWASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 MISSION ANALYSIS AND SYSTEMS ACQUISITION DIVISION B-208483 AUGUST 6,1982 The Honorable Caspar W. Weinberger The Secretary of Defense HHO Attention: Director, GAO Affairs 119274 Dear Mr. Secretary: Subject: Testing and Maintenance of Weapon Systems May Be Enhanced by the Design for Testability Concept (GAO/MASAD-82-38) We completed our survey of the use of the design for test- ability concept in the development and acquisition of major weapon systems. The concept shows significant promise in help- ing to solve some of the problems in the testing and maintenance of fielded weapon systems, and we fully support these efforts. Properly applying the concept should lead to decreased life- cycle costs and possibly improvements in weapon system reli- ability and availability. The Department of Defense's (DOD's) experience with previous attempts to solve these problems, how- ever, causes us to urge caution in implementing the concept. To this point, there have been no formal reviews or analyses within DOD to evaluate and quantify its benefits and limitations. Pre- sumably, as the program matures, these matters will receive appropriate attention. We suggest that you monitor this initia- tive closely to ensure its potential is realized. The design for testability concept is an evolving but still immature discipline that would require weapon designers to incor- porate provisions for improved testing in their designs early in the weapon system acquisition process. The concept relies heavily on built-in-test features and automatic test equipment. It will require designers to evaluate each subsystem or component and add test circuitry or equipment where feasible. The goal is to reduce field testing time, improve diagnostic capabilities, and consequently reduce maintenance time. EVOLUTION OF THE DESIGN FOR TESTABILITY CONCEPT The design for testability concept is an attempt to solve some of the current problems associated with testing weapon sys- tems after they are deployed. Previous attempts to solve weapon system testing and maintenance problems have had mixed results. (951678)

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