Electronics Technology Insertion into Low Volume Complex Electronics Systems (LVCES)

Objectives

Background

Approach

Objectives

To create a guidebook for the low volume complex electronics systems (LVCES) industry in order to enable risk-informed technology insertion by providing a single source knowledge base of

• risks in the LVCES business
• technology trends that affect the development of LVCES
• risk analysis of technology insertion with a case study on risk of using low voltage parts in LVCES
• risk control guidelines

Background

• The LVCES industries such as defense and avionics have transcended from a position of dictating terms with LVCES specific (E.g. mil-spec) part suppliers to a current situation where LVCES specific part availability is declining and part manufacturers have decreasing interested in manufacturing low volume LVCES specific parts. The LVCES industry therefore has a restricted supply chain that does not seem to promise LVCES specific parts beyond 2005. Decreasing availability of LVCES-spec parts has resulted in LVCES industry system designers leaning strongly towards the use of commercial electronics in LVCES industry systems than they have in the past.

• However, LVCES are manufactured in low volume, involve complex designs, require application specific electronics, have a complex supply web, are planned to have very long service lives, operate under harsh environmental conditions, used in critical applications, require adequate reliability, must comply with regulations, are manufactured with high cost pressure, and may leave the manufacturer vulnerable to liability issues. These attributes of LVCES raise challenges of using commercial grade electronics.

• The guidebook is aimed at a wide audience including engineers and managers interested in understanding the risks inherent in the LVCES industries and shaping strategies for analyzing and controlling those risks while conducting technology insertion. The guidebook provides information on the risks of technology insertion, the technology trends that are likely to affect future LVCES designs, a methodology to conduct technology insertion, and guidelines to analyze and control the risks of technology insertion.

Approach

• The risks inherent in the LVCES industry and the risk of technology insertion due to rapid technology changes will be studied.
• The LVCES product sectors will be identified and mapped the LVCES products to the product sectors. An example of product-to-product sector mapping of specific products was done for the avionics industry.The goal of product sector development is to link a product with certain performance requirements and a certain environment of operation to a set of technology trends.
• The study of commercial component technology trends will be continued by reviews of published articles and papers, press releases, electronics industry, manufacturer and semiconductor roadmaps and other sources. The data will be collated into summary trend charts and incorporated into the guidebook.
• A methodology for conducting technology insertion that incorporates technology trends analysis, and risk (induced by both the technology trends and the state of the LVCES industry) management will be developed.
• Risk analysis of technology insertion will be done through a case study. Risk control guidelines in order to reduce the impact of the risks of technology insertion into LVCES will be identified.