DoD/Industry- R&M Study Overview

The institute for Defense Analyses was chartered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study, "Steps Toward Improving the Materiel Readiness Posture of the DoD", which was to "identify and provide support for high payoff actions which the DoD can take to improve the military system design, development and support process so as to provide quantum improvement in R&M and readiness through innovative uses of advancing technology and program structure." This task was given the short title: R&M Study. This paper provides an overview of the overall IDA study. Eight case studies were conducted on R&M activities involving different DoD acquisition programs and 16 technologies were reviewed. All the Services, OSD, universities and over 100 comnpanies participated in and contributed to the study. It represents the activities of one of the largest study efforts focused on readiness through R&M. It was only made possible by the extraordinary support of the leadership and personnel of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the military services, government, industry and academia. This paper will discuss the process that was used to conduct the study activity and will identify the findings and conclusions from the analysis of the study material.