EIGHTY FOUR ENGINEERING
Engineering Solutions to Accelerate Commercialization
PRODUCT & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
TRL, MRL, CDR, PLC, DFMEA, CAD - the list goes on!
Industry jargon and acronyms can make your head spin! Eighty Four Engineering leverages all the industry leading tools and best practices to help you commercialize your new idea efficiently and effectively. Read on to learn more about some of the most common tools and processes we use.
TRL
Technology Readiness Levels
PLC
Product Life Cycle
MRL
Manufacturing Readiness Levels
PDR/CDR
Preliminary/Critical Design Review
(D)FMEA
(Design) Failure Modes Effects Analysis
DFx
Design for X methodology
TRL: Technology Readiness Levels
The TRL system was developed by NASA in the 1970s as a way to evaluate and define the 'readiness' of a particular technology, concept, product or system.
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9 levels, TRL 1 --> TRL 9
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common language and ranking that be used across any industry
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adopted by US Government (DoD, DoE etc), academic institutions and companies globally
TRL 1: Basic principles observed and reported
TRL 2: Technology concept and/or application formulated
TRL 3: Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof of concept
TRL 4: Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory environment
TRL 5: Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment
TRL 6: System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment
TRL 7: System prototype demonstration in an operational environment
TRL 8: Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration
TRL 9: Actual system proven through successful mission operations
Reference: P11 of the GAO-20-48G Technology Readiness Assessment Guide
MRL: Manufacturing Readiness Levels
The MRL system was developed by DOD following the TRL framework to provide a common language and standards for manufacturing process development..
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10 levels: MRL 1 --> MRL 10
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common language and ranking that be used across any industry
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9 ‘Threads’ or focus areas to assess various aspects of manufacturing readiness
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Download the full MRL Criteria Matrix (excel) from the DOD
MRL 1: Basic Manufacturing Implications Identified
MRL 2: Manufacturing Concepts Identified
MRL 3: Manufacturing Proof of Concept Developed
MRL 4: Capability to Produce the Technology in a Laboratory Environment
MRL 5: Capability to Produce Prototype Components in a Production Relevant Environment
MRL 6: Capability to Produce Prototype System/Subsystem in a Production Relevant Environment
MRL 7: Capability to Produce Components/System/Subsystem in a Production Representative Environment
MRL 8: Pilot Line Capability Demonstrated; Ready to Begin Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP)
MRL 9: Low Rate Production (LRP) Demonstrated; Capability in Place to Begin Full Rate Production (FRP)
MRL 10: Full Rate Production (FRP) Demonstrated and Lean Production Practices in Place
MRL Threads & Sub-Threads. The 9 key threads are listed below, with their associated 27 sub-threads. More details on each thread/sub-thread are described in the MRL Criteria Matrix (excel).
A Technology & Industrial Base
A.1 Industrial Base
A.2 Manufacturing Technology Development
B Design
B.1 Producibility Program
B.2 Design Maturity
C Cost & Funding
C.1 Production Cost Knowledge (Cost Modeling)
C.2 Cost Analysis
C.3 Manufacturing Investment Budget
D Materials (Raw Materials, Components, Sub-Assemblies & Sub-Systems)
D.1 Maturity
D.2 Availability
D.3 Supply Chain Management
D.4 Special Handling
E Process Capability & Control
E.1 Modeling & Simulation
E.2 Manufacturing Process Maturity
E.3 Process Yields and Rates
F Quality
F.1 Quality Management
F.2 Product Quality
F.3 Supplier Quality/Management
G Manufacturing Workforce
G.1 Manufacturing Workforce (Engineering & Production)
H Facilities
H.1 Tooling/STE/SIE
H.2 Facilities
I Manufacturing Management
I.1 Manufacturing Planning & Scheduling
MRLs align with a complement TRLs. The chart below from DoD provides details on each MRL, the alignment to TRLs, and exit criteria to move to the next stage.
Reference: DoD MRL Deskbook