http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/12405315

Reliability Improvement Warranties for Military Procurement

Consumer and commercial warranty experience does not alone justify optimistic expectations for RIWs; the effect of RIWs in completed DoD programs is inconclusive; and as a result of inadequate research design the expectation of drawing meaningful conclusions from the ongoing RIW experiment may be over-optimistic. Examination of completed RIW programs, however, suggests the importance of (1) modification after operational use or testing, (2) schedule flexibility, (3) contractor involvement in initial overhaul and repair, (4) and avoidance of RIWs in programs subject to extreme quantity or utilization uncertainty. The design of the DoD's ongoing RIW experiment can be improved by (1) reducing the variation in contractual terms, (2) developing better controlled conditions, and (3) establishing defined limits for the experiment. In addition, the DoD must recognize the multiple objectives of the RIW and establish priority among them to facilitate evaluation.

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