Value-engineering change proposals for the consolidated automated support system (CASS): issues and solutions in reengineering

The Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS) is a US Department of Defense (DoD) standard family of advanced-technology automated test systems (ATS) developed for the US Navy by prime contractor Lockheed Martin. It uses commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) assets, including a Digital Equipment Corporation central processing unit (CPU) and a digital test unit (DTU) supplied by Teradyne, Inc. In December, 1994, upon approval of the NAVAIR Configuration Control Board, NAVAIR PMA-260 awarded Lockheed Martin two Value Engineering Change Proposals (VECPs) for upgrades to the CPU and DTU. These changes have the potential to save more than $140 million in CASS program life-cycle costs as a result of lower unit costs, greater reliability, and reduced logistic support costs. By increasing system performance and saving additional space for future technology insertion, these upgrades will enable CASS to test a wide range of weapon system technology well into the next century. In addition to enhanced performance and cost savings, a key NAVAIR requirement in evaluating the CASS VECPs was maintaining forward and backward test program set (TPS) compatibility with the original CASS system. By maintaining TPS compatibility, the CASS VECPs set a new standard for future upgrades to ATS systems.