Translating user diagnostics, reliability, and maintainability needs into specifications

Military users state the requirements for a new system in the Operational Requirements Document. They do so using the measures with which they manage the systems. These measures are not suitable for specifying the system's needed performance to a contractor. A translation, therefore, from user needs to specifications is needed. A methodology for this translation process for reliability, maintainability, and diagnostics needs is being developed and incorporated in a PC software tool. The tool will provide a disciplined, auditable method for performing the needs to specification translation.