Wholistic Sustainment Maturity: The Extension of System Readiness Methodology across all Phases of the lifecycle of a complex system

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the applicability of the Stevens Institute of Technology (hereinafter Stevens) Systems Development & Maturity Laboratory (SysDML) System Readiness Level (SRL) Model and methodology for analysis of 'wholistic' maturity of a complex system measured by other metrics beyond Technology Readiness Level (TRL). This paper proposes a 'wholistic' Systems Maturity model that includes a Manufacturing Maturity measured by a Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) analysis and Sustainment Maturity measured by a Sustainability Maturity Level (SML) analysis based on the Stevens SRL methodology 1. In addition, the contextual relational metrics needed for the SRL model will be defined for sustainment maturity in order to determine 'wholistic' sustainment maturity of large scale, complex systems. The general purpose of this 'wholistic' sustainment maturity is to facilitate effective decision-making by Program Managers and Systems Engineering Leads and provide a composite evidence-based maturity assessment for large scale, complex systems for Department of Defense (DoD) milestones and reviews. This paper will address the 'wholistic' system view where a system's object can be defined as a technology starting from a capability/component up to a system within a System of Systems (SoS). As long as there is parity for all objects under analysis and the appropriate interface/integration/interoperability readiness level (IRL) point of view is maintained the SRL model can provide the relative maturity of a complex system and the contextual maturity of each object within that system providing insight into potential areas needing further analysis and focus by Program Managers and Systems Engineering Leads. Note that this method will not provide a definitive composite value for maturity. The data this methodology provides can assist the Program Manager in determining where additional focus and/or resources may be needed as well as a relative "value" for the maturity of the 'wholistic' system to determine if progress is being made along the development timeline. This paper will describe how the SRL Model can be used for 'wholistic' Sustainability maturity and will define the relational connections between objects with respect to technology and manufacturing that can be used for the model. Additionally, the paper will define the ordinal scales, aligned to the TRL MRL and SML scales as well as the key milestones and reviews of the various phases of a development program. Finally, the paper will recommend methods for displaying the aforementioned system maturity, based on Human Factors, in order for an analyst to easily determine what is of highest and lowest importance within the results of the new 'wholistic' readiness model. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.