Program Assurance with COTS Products in Aerospace and Defense
Integrating COTS technology within long-term programs is increasingly prevalent in the rapidly evolving aerospace and defense industries. This trend is driven mainly by the benefits of commercial technologies, including superior performance, cost-effectiveness, and seamless interoperability with existing systems. However, leveraging the technology comes with challenges primarily due to their short commercial lifecycles. Programs must strategically mitigate the associated risks to reap the full advantages. Total LifeCycle Management™ (TLCM) provides the highest level of program assurance, ensuring customers have a consistent supply of critical electronics for the entire program. TLCM offers a comprehensive lifecycle management approach, and these services help customers avoid costly redesigns caused by obsolescence in components, technology, processes, or test infrastructure.
As aerospace and defense programs continue to embrace COTS technology, the importance of adopting a proactive lifecycle management strategy cannot be overstated. TLCM fulfills this need and sets a new standard for program assurance. Through planning, oversight, and continuous customer engagement, TLCM enables programs to unlock the full potential of COTS products while minimizing risk and maximizing performance. For organizations looking to navigate the complexities of COTS integration, embracing TLCM's comprehensive approach to program assurance is a pivotal step forward. It represents a commitment to operational excellence, program longevity, and technological superiority in the highly competitive aerospace and defense sectors.
What is Total LifeCycle Management?
Total LifeCycle Management is a service that bridges the gap between the lifecycle of COTS products and the longevity of defense programs. TLCM includes four key elements:
- Assured Component Availability (DMSMS/obsolescence)
- Product Configuration Control
- Direct Access to Lifecycle Specialists
- Test Infrastructure, Tooling and Expertise
What does Total LifeCycle Management include?
TLCM allows customers to partner with Curtiss-Wright’s team of lifecycle experts to understand product decisions as they occur.
Go Beyond the Standard with Total LifeCycle Management.
| Investment Protection & LifeCycle Services | Standard Product | TLCM | Safety-Certifiable TLCM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to Product Resources | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Product Longevity Solutions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Direct Access to Dedicated LifeCycle Specialists | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Product Configuration Control (Product Revisions) | - | - | ✓ |
| Product Configuration Control (Engineering Change Orders) | - | ✓ | - |
| Real-Time DMSMS Alerts | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Last-Time Buy Component Priority | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| 24/7 Access to Real-Time Information via TLCM Portal | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sustained Manufacturing & Test Infrastructure Availability | - | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bonded Component Storage & Management | - | ✓ | ✓ |
Customer Support Center
To access the TLCM web portal, users must register for access. Curtiss-Wright typically responds to new user requests within 24-48 hours.
The portal includes:
- Proposed engineering change orders/product change notices
- Component health reporting (DMSMS)
- Early alert notifications
- Product longevity
- Manuals
- Software downloads
- Firmware updates
- Pinout configurator utilities
- FPGA loads
TLCM Frequently Asked Questions
- Programs with a product configuration that is locked-down and qualified.
- Programs that need real-time DMSMS notifications or have an obsolescence contract data requirement list (CDRL).
- Safety-certifiable programs.
- Programs with product governed by a Source Controlled Document (SCD) or customer drawing.
- Programs that require authority over Major (Class I) & Minor (Class II) engineering change orders.
- Programs with a large product forecast.
- Programs that have long-term builds and requirements for repairs, or a flow down from the customer to support fielded technology for a defined period of time.
- Programs that cannot easily support a technology insertion when electronics go end-of-life.
It’s never too early to get started with TLCM. In the event of a lifetime buy decision, component quantities will be finite. TLCM customers are provided with “behind the scenes” priority access to secure parts. This special access is critical for the continued availability of a product.
By subscribing early, customers avoid managing multiple part numbers: a standard part number ordered by multiple customers and, later, a customer-specific version needed to support TLCM.
Creating Customer-Specific Variants - TLCM also includes customer-specific variant creation, which is required to support the service. A variant allows customers to maintain a revision separate from standard product, and ensures that any material secured by the program is used only on their builds.
Direct Access to Lifecycle Specialists - TLCM customers can allocate resources to other areas, knowing that industry specialists are proactively monitoring program forecasts, product availability, obsolescence, and proposed product changes.
The intent of TLCM is to provide customers with a proactive approach on all fronts. This is done with pairing these two elements to provide complete visibility.
- Product configuration control affords programs the ability to approve or reject proposed engineering change orders (ECO) as they occur. In the event of a change driven by obsolescence, customers may be receiving notification after a component LTB date. By pairing these services, customers are alerted to obsolescence real-time and have sufficient time to make an informed decision before being forced to implement a change due to component unavailability.
- On the DMS side, TLCM allows customers to be looped into bill of material updates when material procurement has occurred. This includes the generation of a customer-specific part number used to warehouse customer-owned inventory separate from general inventory, and timing of it being added to the build package.
Curtiss-Wright’s Total LifeCycle Management service covers monthly obsolescence reviews of all integrated circuits (ICs). This information is provided via The Continuum Support Center web portal.
To request a quotation for service, please contact a local sales representative.
TLCM is a subscription-based service. Curtiss-Wright actively encourages customers to subscribe to TLCM for the full duration of the program. Customers taking this approach do not pay annual escalation and are able to select from several invoicing options. Further, customers who take a proactive approach are able to obtain funding once and avoid paying re-activation fees for expired or lapsed services.
Learn more about TLCM by contacting a local sales representative or program manager or by emailing [email protected]. Lifecycle Specialists are happy to schedule a live demonstration of the industry-leading web portal and provide an overview of TLCM.
