Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities

NCMS Technology Roadmapping Initiative

Background

The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) conducts numerous collaborative development projects which advance the competitiveness of North American Manufacturing enterprises. One such NCMS project, entitled the Management of Accelerated Technology Innovation, deals with technology management issues and it is a collaboration of companies such as IBM, Lucent Technologies, GM, Ford, Motorola, Kellogg’s, Kraft Foods, Coca-Cola, Siemens-Westinghouse, Baxter Healthcare, Roche, et al. These companies share best practices in technology management processes and create even better tools as a result of the collaboration. One such management tool which emerged was a methodology for technology roadmapping which is now in use by most of the above mentioned companies.

In early 2003, NCMS observed that this roadmapping methodology might have a beneficial application in the NCMS CTMA (Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activities) program. The resultant roadmaps would be useful for NCMS and OSD to identify future collaborative projects to be formed between the NCMS private company members and the various maintenance depots. An additional benefit would be for the depots themselves to have a technology roadmap that would span the changes in their command.

Process Description

The process of implementing this roadmapping methodology is for NCMS to facilitate two roadmapping sessions at depot facility. Each session is two days in length and separated by a 2-3 week timeframe. The facilitation is done with a team of depot personnel, the highest level available, who are knowledgeable about the future direction and the future technology needs of the depot. Most frequently, the team roadmapping process itself can by more valuable that the actual roadmaps. This occurs because of consensus building and easier buy-in by the participants when it comes time to implement. The resultant set of roadmaps will address:

1. Strategy and Mission The organization strategy and mission.
2. Customer Drivers and Applications Prioritized list of customer needs and the applications for the manufacturing facility – the “whys.”
3. Competitive Position Competitive approaches and competitive landscape.
4. Capability Drivers Capabilities and performance targets – the “whats.”
5. Targets and Priorities Targets for the drivers, trends, experience curves, potential disruptions.
6. Manufacturing and Skills Architecture The elements of manufacturing and skills and how thy fit together and interact.
7. Capability and Technology Element Evolution The technology roadmap – the “hows” for the elements of the architecture (technologies and skills).
8. Action Plan Technology strategy, resources and timing of investments in technologies – the “to-do’s.”
9. Technology Investment Map Priorities of technology investments
10. Risk Roadmap Key indicators of risks to plans. Track for signals that indicate need to change the roadmap.

Expectations/Benefits:

1. Better 5 year plan for equipment and facilities (ID Technology investments ($); Investment plan for people, equipment and plan for technology transfer; Technology insertion plan (list); Vision for new equipment; Identify work load;
2. Longer range vision for the Depot. A more definitive plan for the long term
3. Coordination and integration of all planning initiatives
4. Position depot to survive (e.g., BRAC). Drive growth
5. Capitalize on capabilities and competitive edge
6. Plan for life cycle maintenance (get involved up front in acquisition process)
7. Plan at the Depot level. Disciplined process for planning control of our own destiny. Need to be consistent in tech. needs depot level up vs. down to depot.
8. Coordinate with other services
9. More system integration. Computer integration
10. Address support requirements for new technologies. Insert technologies w/o creating bottlenecks
11. Measurement tool (measure tech. acquisitions against roadmap)
12. Coordination of environmental compliance
13. NCMS and OSD to use for planning future CTMA projects

Contact Information

For additional information on technology roadmapping, or to schedule a roadmapping event at your facility, contact Mike Gnam at 734-995-4971 or mikeg@ncms.org


	Copyright 2008 National Center for Manufacturing Sciences