Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages

Go Home

Hughes Aircraft Turns Around on “Lost Year” in Engineering Program

Nov 3, 2020 | Asset Dynamics, Cases, Transportation

Hughes Aircraft Case: Part 1

(Narrated by Ken Cooper) 9:37 minutes

Hughes Aircraft Case Part 2 – The Back Story

(Narrated by Ken Cooper) 3:51 minutes

The Issue You Tackled

Hughes faced what seemed to be stalled progress and out-of-control costs on their most important aerospace program, the AMRAAM missile development. The future of the program and relations with DoD and Congress were in jeopardy. We needed to define the true scope of the problem and seek effective corrective action.

What You Actually Did

We designed and built a SD model of the AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) development program. This was the first SD model of an aerospace program, altered from our early shipbuilding program simulations. For example, we built additional sectors to portray prototype production and flight testing (not a big issue on ships…).

The senior program manager related that one year earlier the program was estimated to be 70% complete. After the past year, with 1000 engineers at work, the program seemed to be at …70%! He called it “The Lost Year”. The Company Board, auditors, Defense Department, and Congress were all demanding answers to what seemed to be rapidly escalating costs. Our objective was to identify where things really stood and find corrective action.

The Results

We were able to identify the causes of “The Lost Year” and explain them to the program, Corporate, and other reviewers. New initiatives were identified and implemented. The program went on to progress as simulated.

In the end, the AMRAAM program became one of the most successful programs in DoD and for Hughes.

After that uncertain start, the AMRAAM has been in production for over 25 years.

It flies at Mach 4 from most advanced fighter jets today, the F15, F16, F18, F22 and more. The AMRAAM is still known as “the world’s most sophisticated air dominance weapon”.

Name First Aerospace Use of SD Project Modeling
Modelers Ken Cooper
Client/Participant Hughes Aircraft Company
Client Type Corporation
The Official Website For added information, or with any questions, see CooperSDNetwork.com, or contact Ken via email: Ken.Cooper@CooperSD.com

Do you want to know more?

Related Publications

The Rework Cycle: Why Projects are Mismanaged Download

OTHER SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS

System Dynamics Helps Farmers Escape Poverty Trap in Guatemala

System Dynamics Helps Farmers Escape Poverty Trap in Guatemala EXECUTIVE Summary Guatemala holds the 4th highest global ranking for chronic malnutrition, and climate change is intensifying the challenges subsistence farmers face in providing food for their families....

Twinings Uses System Dynamics Games to Enhance HR Capability

Twinings Uses System Dynamics Games to Enhance HR Capability “Realistic simulation is a powerful approach to building capability. The business simulation developed [by Dashboard Simulations and Lane4] gave [Twinings staff] an experience that called for them to develop...

RSC Uses System Dynamics to Increase HVACR Sales Against the Tide

RSC Uses System Dynamics to Increase HVACR Sales Against the Tide “Using the proven Strategy Dynamic process focused our limited resources on organizing strategic issues, identifying the critical resources, and developing the insight to more rapidly create intuitive...

Upcoming Events

Recent Posts

A Close-Up on Our New Look

A Close-Up on Our New Look We are excited to reveal our new logo and branding, embodying the System Dynamics Society’s values and vision for the future. The looped arrows with an S curve symbolize growth, change over time, and commitment to raising complex...

Join us

OTHER SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS

System Dynamics Helps Farmers Escape Poverty Trap in Guatemala

System Dynamics Helps Farmers Escape Poverty Trap in Guatemala EXECUTIVE Summary Guatemala holds the 4th highest global ranking for chronic malnutrition, and climate change is intensifying the challenges subsistence farmers face in providing food for their families....

Twinings Uses System Dynamics Games to Enhance HR Capability

Twinings Uses System Dynamics Games to Enhance HR Capability “Realistic simulation is a powerful approach to building capability. The business simulation developed [by Dashboard Simulations and Lane4] gave [Twinings staff] an experience that called for them to develop...

RSC Uses System Dynamics to Increase HVACR Sales Against the Tide

RSC Uses System Dynamics to Increase HVACR Sales Against the Tide “Using the proven Strategy Dynamic process focused our limited resources on organizing strategic issues, identifying the critical resources, and developing the insight to more rapidly create intuitive...

Recent Posts

A Close-Up on Our New Look

A Close-Up on Our New Look We are excited to reveal our new logo and branding, embodying the System Dynamics Society’s values and vision for the future. The looped arrows with an S curve symbolize growth, change over time, and commitment to raising complex...

Upcoming Events