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Keep the Legacy Alive
A legacy system has a history of always working,
properly interfacing with other systems, having knowledgeable
and well trained staff, and of being well documented. A military
legacy system is relied on by millions of troops to always
work. The reality is that nothing lasts forever. Parts fail
and the replacement pieces hasn't existed for years, if not
decades. How do you keep the legacy alive?
Options for keeping the legacy system alive
include:
- Design, build and install a completely new replacement
for the entire system
- Design and manufacture a replacement for the subsystem
- Build a form, fit and function component replacement
There are three basic solutions for obsolescence
available to system managers today; system upgrade, subsystem
upgrade, or component replacement. Each of the solutions involves
different degrees of cost, complexity and time to affect.
Careful consideration must be given to the advantages and
disadvantages of each method because the success or failure
of the venture is at stake.
Manuflex understands that there is no single
approach that is best for all obsolescence problems. The solution
is made more difficult with decreasing defense budgets and
defense contractor consolidation. Managers of military systems
have serious decisions to make when faced with obsolescence
problems. They must decide whether it is better to buy new
systems or find a means of extending the life of the existing
system.
Build an Entirely New System
When considering the replacement of an entire
system, significant concern must be placed on the certainty
that a potential new system will absolutely work. After all,
the legacy system has reliably functioned, usually for decades.
The only advantage for a complete system
replacement is the potential for new feature sets provided
by new technology. A complete system upgrade might be needed
at some point in time. However, the cost and time to implement
a complete replacement system must be well timed, sufficiently
funded, and properly overlap the legacy system.
Manufacture a Replacement Sub-System
On the surface, replacing a subsystem seems
very simple. The entire system depends on uniformity to operate
flawlessly. Everything must be uniform; documentation, staff
training, spare parts, technical support, test equipment,
and interaction with other subsystems. Without uniformity,
the reliability of the legacy system is questionable. And,
upgrading a single subsystem may require that similar subsystems
be retrofitted to insure uniformity.
Subsystem replacement isn't the proper solution
for component obsolescence. The overall cost both in the cost
of hardware and in the effort to certify proper functionality
will be greater than just the cost of a subsystem. The time
required to determine possible subsystem interaction problems
also moves this solution beyond an acceptable time line. The
issue is how to keep the legacy system working as a whole,
flawlessly.
Replace the Obsolete Component
Replacing just the obsolete component offers benefits that
make it a superior approach in many situations.
The potential success of component replacement can cause
some to argue that the only reason to upgrade a system is
to effect more capability in the system. Individual component
manufacturing is an excellent solution for providing a supply
of replacement parts quickly and cost effectively and should
be considered as more than just a bridge solution. This method
does not require total system retrofit for all systems to
remain compatible, redesigned components can be installed
as needed without effect on the remainder of fielded units.
When approached correctly this is an efficient, reliable,
and non-intrusive way of extending a systems life far into
the future.
The benefits of replacing just the obsolete component include:
- Low cost as compared to others
- Less intrusive, only the obsolete items are replaced
- Transparent part replacement, ideal for replenishment
of failed parts
- Support systems such as technical orders, test equipment
and software are not impacted and thus a cost driver
- Schedule of approximately 3 to 6 months as opposed to
36 to 60 months
- Total system retrofit is not required for systems to remain
compatible
- Redesign components can be installed as needed without
effect on the remainder of fielded units
Form, Fit and Function
Manuflex believes: "The best system to field is the
one that is already fielded." We can design and build
a replacement component for you that has true form, fit and
function to the obsolete component. When a legacy system has
obsolete components, we can build the bridge to the future.
Our SMGA technology allows us to keep the legacy system alive
in a cost effective, timely manner.
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