Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) Deskbook

matures so that manufacturing maturity is sufficient at the time of transition to supportrapid and affordable incorporation into a system. Some manufacturing-related bestpractices for technology development project managers are as follows:• Plan and fund to ensure that both the target MRL and the target TRL areachieved within budget at transition• Perform a baseline assessment of manufacturing readiness early in theprogram to establish a starting MRL and include the transition customer inthis process• Use the results of the baseline assessment to set priorities and develop anMMP that will reach the target MRL in time to support transition• Work with transition customers to identify the target MRL that will beacceptable for transition (e.g., MRL 6 at Milestone B) and include thisinformation in the Technology Transition Agreement• Perform a final assessment of manufacturing readiness to confirm that thetarget MRL has been reached and include the transition customer in thisprocess• Include manufacturing subject matter experts in all systems engineeringtechnical reviews3.2.1 MATERIEL SOLUTION ANALYSIS PHASEThe Materiel Development Decision marks the start of the MSA Phase. Thispresents the first substantial opportunity to influence systems design by balancingtechnology opportunities, schedule constraints, funding availability, system performanceparameters, and manufacturing feasibility. The technical approach for systemdevelopment should be driven by knowledge of the manufacturing maturity and risk ofthe various technologies under consideration as well as their associated performancematurity. Two systems engineering reviews, the Alternative Systems Review (ASR) andthe Initial Technical Review (ITR), should be conducted during MSA.This phase refines the initial concept by conducting an AoA to examine potentialmateriel solutions with the goal of identifying the most promising option that satisfies thecapability need. An AoA is a comparison of the operational effectiveness, suitability,and life-cycle cost of alternatives. The AoA also plays a role in crafting a cost-effectiveand balanced evolutionary acquisition strategy.MSA ends when the AoA is complete and a draft TDS has been developed forthe proposed materiel solution. The rationale for the proposed evolutionary acquisitionstrategy would be documented as part of the TDS. Manufacturing subject matterexperts should participate in the AoA and the development of the TDS.3-3