Simulating R&D decision for critical subsystems in defence R&D projects, Soumen Roy, A. Sarkar and Biswajit Mahanty
Soumen Kumar Roy, A.K. Sarkar
Defence Research and Development Laboratory
Defence Research and Development Organisation, Hyderabad
India
Email: soumenkroy@drdl.drdo.in
Biswajit Mahanty
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur
India
DOI: 10.1108/WJSTSD-06-2016-0040
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of a critical subsystem development indigenously on the outcome of an Indian defence R&D project. Indigenous development of the critical subsystem requires the development of a number of technologies; hence the study is taken up for indigenously development of critical subsystem.
Design/methodology/approach: A simulation-based approach is used in this paper for studying the effect of indigenization decisions. A defence R&D project with the critical subsystems is modeled in Graphical Evolution and Review Technique (GERT) networks, and simulated in Arena simulation software using discrete event simulation model. The simulation model is thereafter experimented with decision options for the critical subsystem. Data were collected from the project management office (PMO) of short range homing guided missile (SRHGM) for this simulation study.
Findings: It has been found in this case that timely development of technology plays a key role in the Indian defence R&D projects. While indigenization of critical components reduces cost of development, the trade-off lies in much increased project development time. It is imperative that project teams should identify critical components early and work out appropriate strategies of indigenous development to avoid time overrun of the projects.
Research limitations/implications: The accuracy of results of the study could perhaps be affected on account of the extent of data forthcoming from the PMO. However, GERT framework presented in this paper is realistically derived from the practices used in the SRHGM project.
Originality/value: The study would help the project teams to identify critical subsystems early and work out appropriate strategies of indigenous development to avoid time overrun of the projects. This study would also make the project as well as the R&D teams aware of the causes for delays and cost overruns, and assist to deliver a product meeting end-user requirements.
Keywords: Discrete event simulation; Make or buy; Defence project management; Graphical Evaluation and Review Technique (GERT); Indigenization.
Citation: Roy, S.K., Sarkar, A.K. and Mahanty, B. (2018), "Simulating R&D decision for critical subsystems in defence R&D projects", World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 54-71. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-06-2016-0040
