Post by SA Dr. John Clark on Mar 31, 2013 20:26:39 GMT -5
[Posted for reader amusement. If your characters want some new tech-toy developed here, these are the terms they'll have to agree to.]
These are based almost verbatim on the operating rules of the famous Lockheed Martin Skunk Works--which is appropriate; Clark considers Skunk Works founder Kelly Johnson among his heroes and strove to emulate his business practices and philosophies when starting his own Research & Development/Black Projects firm. Management HAS been known to grant exceptions to these rules under certain specialized conditions.
Current projects and clients include:
- 1. The company's program manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects. He should report to a division president or higher.
- 2. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the customer and industry.
- 3. The number of people having any connection with the project must be restricted in an almost vicious manner. Use a small number of good people (10% to 25% compared to the so-called normal systems).
- 4. A very simple drawing and drawing release system with great flexibility for making changes must be provided.
- 5. There must be a minimum number of reports required, but important work must be recorded thoroughly.
- 6. There must be a monthly cost review covering not only what has been spent and committed but also projected costs to the conclusion of the program. Don't have the books 90 days late, and don't surprise the customer with sudden overruns.
- 7. The contractor must be delegated and must assume more than normal responsibility to get good vendor bids for subcontract on the project. Commercial bid procedures are very often better than military ones.
- 8. The inspection system as currently used by the Skunk Works, which has been approved by both the Air Force and Navy, meets the intent of existing military requirements and should be used on new projects. Push more basic inspection responsibility back to subcontractors and vendors. Don't duplicate so much inspection.
- 9. The contractor must be delegated the authority to test his final product in operation. He can and must test it in the initial stages. If he doesn't, he rapidly loses his competency to design other vehicles and hardware.
- 10. The specifications applying to the hardware must be agreed to well in advance of contracting. The Skunk Works practice of having a specification section stating clearly which important military specification items will not knowingly be complied with and reasons therefore is highly recommended.
- 11. Funding a program must be timely so that the contractor doesn't have to keep running to the bank to support government projects. Failure to make timely payment will result in project suspension until the situation is remedied.
- 12. There must be mutual trust between the military project organization and the contractor with very close cooperation and liaison on a day-to-day basis. This cuts down misunderstanding and correspondence to an absolute minimum.
- 13. Access by outsiders to the project and its personnel must be strictly controlled by appropriate security measures.
- 14. Because only a few people will be used in engineering and most other areas, ways must be provided to reward good performance by pay not based on the number of personnel supervised.
- 15. Starve before doing business with the damned Navy. They don't know what the hell they want and will drive you up a wall before they break either your heart or a more exposed part of your anatomy.
These are based almost verbatim on the operating rules of the famous Lockheed Martin Skunk Works--which is appropriate; Clark considers Skunk Works founder Kelly Johnson among his heroes and strove to emulate his business practices and philosophies when starting his own Research & Development/Black Projects firm. Management HAS been known to grant exceptions to these rules under certain specialized conditions.
Current projects and clients include:
- MH-53X Advanced Rotorcraft Technologies Testbed - Sikorsky Division, United Technologies Corporation; Lockheed Martin; General Electric; DARPA
- F/A-14E Tomcat II - Northrop Grumman Corporation; US Air Force; Missile Defense Agency
- Sea Specter Maritime Automation Demonstrator - United States Navy; Royal Swedish Navy; DARPA
- EA-6B+ Intruder II - US Marine Corps; US Air Force
- Ongoing Technical Analysis and Intelligence Support activities for FBI Division Six (Special Operations)