• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.395-404
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• 2013

Purpose: Technology readiness assessment(TRA) used as a standard readiness assessment tool in the acquisition program of weapon system has some limitations in the comprehensive understanding of the complex system. Therefore, this research is intended to suggest a holistic maturity assessment method for the acquisition of high quality weapon system. Methods: Technology readiness level(TRL), manufacturing readiness level(MRL), integration readiness level(IRL) and system readiness level(SRL) developed to assess system maturities in the various aspects are compared and analyzed to draw an improvement avenue for the current readiness assessment method. Results: TRL, MRL, IRL and SRL have large differences in their maturity targets during the acquisition life cycle: technological performance, manufacturing capability, interface between components and total system, respectively. They complement one another's shortcomings Conclusion: To achieve a successful acquisition of high quality weapon system, multi-dimensional readiness assessment is required. Therefore, comprehensive readiness assessment using TRL, MRL, IRL and SRL will contribute to the acquisition of high quality weapon system through the accurate maturity information of overall system.

• Korean Management Science Review
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.157-167
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• 2009

Technology transition from defense technology to weapon system is an important process for defense acquisition program. Many countries such as USA, UK, Australia and Republic of Korea use technology readiness level (TRL) as a tool for technology transition by identifying critical technology elements (CTEs) and assessing the technology maturity. In this paper we review a transition process for the defense acquisition. Then we suggest a method to evaluate system's TRL using each component TRL and integration readiness level (IRL) between each technologies. We apply the method to an ACTD project. A result show that technology maturity is influenced by integration between technologies.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.60-69
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• 2009

Recently, request far application of advanced commercial technology to the defense acquisition process, to reduce the budget and shorten development time, has been increased. To accomplish these goals, the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration(ACTD) is used for the defense acquisition process in Korea. And User Utility Assessment is tested to make a decision for transition to acquisition process. But this process does not include measurement of technology maturity and impacts of interface and interaction among the technologies. In this research, we propose the needs of measurement of TRL and IRL and application of SRL to reduce the risk during development phase, to understand the relations of technologies, and to fulfill the requirement far transition of the ACTD project to system development and demonstration process.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2010

Military technology transition is the process of transition from the science and technology environment to systems to supply effective weapon systems and support systems to the fighters. In case of technology transition decision, immatured technologies result in increasing acquisition cost and delaying schedule toward the objective system. In this paper, we proposed a method to identify and select critical technology elements by integration relations between technologies or components, for supporting technology transition and risk management of military R&D projects.

• Journal of The Korean Institute of Defense Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.23-30
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• 2023

TRA(Technology Readiness Assessment) quantitatively assesses the current level of domestic technology and is used as a key tool for determining the possibility of domestic R&D and risk management. However, since the current TRA utilizes hardware-oriented TRL(Technology Readiness Level), it is suitable for independent assessment of each technologies, but has limitations in evaluation from a system integration perspective. In addition, the checklist-based assessment is highly likely to involve subjective evaluation. This study proposes an enhanced TRA framework by redefining TRA procedures and criteria from the systems integration perspective of system engineering. We focused on developing a framework that overcomes the limitations of the current TRL/TRA and enables easier and more intuitive assessment. The proposed framework distinguishes between TE(Technology Element) and CTE(Critical Technology Element) in terms of HW, SW and interface and redefines TRL. TRA is performed according to the TRL redefined from the above three points of view, and the lowest evaluation value is used as system maturity level in consideration of risk management. The proposed CTE selection method minimizes the intervention of the evaluator by utilizing the quantitative goal of the key ROC(Required Operational Capability), development difficulty, and application of COTS(Common Off The Shelf) technology. The effectiveness of this framework was confirmed through a case study of the TSS(Target Surveillance System). It is hoped that starting with this study, research at the framework level will be activated and contribute to the improvement of the TRA system.