Life Cycle Analysis Procedures and Techniques: An Appraisal and Suggestions for Future Research

A briefing discussing the application of life cycle analysis to the evaluation of proposed investments of R&D and procurement funds. The primary focus of this study has been on aircraft systems and on decisions involving program changes and modifications to systems already in acquisition. In summary, it was observed that present procedures and techniques for making life cycle cost estimates can lead to decisions that have effects opposite to what the decisionmaker is seeking. Opportunities to reduce overall costs may be missed. R&D funds may be invested without achieving an expected O&S cost reduction, thereby increasing life cycle cost. The establishment of a uniform set of procedures for conducting and presenting the results of life cycle analyses should help in two ways. It would compensate for some of the shortcomings of current models and data, and it would provide a useful basis for the development of improved estimating techniques in the future. Presented at Twelfth Annual Department of Defense Cost Analysis Symposium, Colorado Springs, CO, Oct 77.