James P. Pennell's research while affiliated with Institute for Defense Analyses and other places

Concurrent engineering, a more systematic approach to creating high quality products at lower in significantly less time, has recently been promoted in the automotive, computer and electronics, and aerospace industries as a response to competitive pressures. It also attracted the attention of the Department of Defense and in 1988, the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) was asked to investigate concurrent engineering. The authors describe the investigation, present highlights of the evidence, and set forth the principal findings and recommendations. They include a sample of reported benefits, an outline of the methods and technologies of concurrent engineering, and a conceptual framework to describe the continuing research needed in this area

The authors summarize a 1988 investigation of concurrent engineering and its role in weapons system acquisition with some attention to testability implications. They describe the investigation, present highlights of the evidence, and set forth the principal findings and recommendations, related them to testability where appropriate. Included is the definition of concurrent engineering developed during this study. Some benefits reported include 60% reduction in product development time, elimination of two thirds of the inspectors in one factory, and several-million-dollars annual savings in chemical and soldering processes. The methods and technologies of concurrent engineering are outlined and the process management ideas, the computer support, and the problem-solving techniques are considered. A conceptual framework is offered to describe the continuing research needed in this area

The purpose of IDA Document D-571 is to provide an annotated bibliography on concurrent engineering. This document is intended to help the reader who is unfamiliar with concurrent engineering understand the several fields of study involved and also to allow those who are experts in some narrower subject gain an appreciation for work in related topics.

The purpose of this IDA Report is to document the results of a study made by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) for the Department of Defense to assess claims of improved competitiveness in the commercial industrial base resulting from the use of concurrent engineering. IDA reviewed published documentation on concurrent engineering and its implementation.