Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) Deskbook

4. Contractor overview and discussion of the results of their self-assessment5. Shop-floor visits to key areas by individuals or small groups6. One-on-one or small group discussions between assessment team membersand contractor subject matter experts focused on key areas7. Private meeting of assessment team to record and discuss observations8. Out-briefing by assessment team to contractor4.8 CONDUCT THE ASSESSMENT OF MANUFACTURING READINESS4.8.1 REVIEW THE SELF ASSESSMENTThe assessment team should initiate focused dialog at the component, test,and/or assembly process based on complexity, location, personnel availability, etc. Inlarger assessments, specific technologies, assemblies, subsystems or processesshould be assigned to individuals or sub teams.The MRL threads and the associated definitions represent evaluation criteria fordetermining manufacturing maturity. The leader of the assessment should review theself assessment and examine targeted components, subsystem and system-level testand assembly processes with respect to the threads. These threads have differentapplicability at various times during a product development life cycle. The threads canapply at each component, subsystem, system, and eventually at the program level.They should be used to guide examination of various data sources such as processmaps, work instructions, and factory tours to assign an MRL to a technology,component, or subsystem.A series of knowledge-based questions derived from the MRL definitions andthreads are typically used to guide the assessment process and determine the MRL ofspecific elements that are embodied in hardware (e.g. materials, components,assemblies, subsystems).The questions are tailorable to any program and have beenincorporated into tools that store the MRL data for the self-assessment. The questionsand tools can be found at http://www.dodmrl.com/.4.8.2 CONDUCT ASSESSMENTWhen conducting an assessment of manufacturing readiness, there should be awell-defined hierarchy among the elements assessed. The hierarchy should start at thesystem level and flow down to the lowest component that forms the smallest unit forexamination. The assessment team should determine the MRL threads applicable toeach element in the hierarchy and identify the needed system level test and assemblyprocesses that require an MRL assignment. This includes test and assembly steps thatwould be included in a subsystem or component fabrication. For example, a PrintedWiring Board (PWB) has several assembly and testing steps during the fabrication of4-9