Capabilities

build to print

CTA’s build-to-print capabilities entail several processes: planning, procurement, fabrication, testing, and delivery.

Planning: Client-approved official build-to-print packages are be placed under CM/DM control and parts lists are generated.  Updates to the parts database, developed during the bid process, are performed as required and finalized plans, schedules, and procurements are developed.

Procurement: Upon completion of the planning task, CTA generates purchase requests for all parts and materials.  CTA updates the inventory database with the status of each part including estimated price and expected delivery date.  Fabrication personnel are consulted to ensure that fabrication schedules are consistent with parts receipt and delivery schedules.  CTA inspects and tests all parts and materials for appropriate quantities, quality, and specification compliance.  Parts or materials found to be out of specification are either returned immediately to the vendor or studied to determine if they can be made acceptable, or used “as is”.  Once received, all parts are placed in a controlled inventory storage area and kept under positive control.  During the procurement phase, a process traveler for each assembly to be fabricated is prepared.  Each process traveler specifies all assembly drawings to be used; defines sequential manufacturing and fabrication steps, and identifies any outside processes, QA inspection points, and test points.  Each process traveler is reviewed and signed off by engineering, manufacturing, and QA personnel to ensure an acceptable process traveler.

Fabrication and Testing: CTA holds a project review to determine if enough parts are on hand to begin fabrication.  Upon approval for fabrication start up, process travelers are released for submission, (along with associated engineering drawings), to the engineering release system.  CM personnel submit the process traveler and engineering drawings to Property Management, where parts from inventory are kitted and issued to the fabrication personnel to begin fabrication of the assembly.  As parts are withdrawn from inventory, the parts database is updated.

Fabrication personnel follow the process traveler instructions and engineering drawings to produce the required fabricated item.  As fabrication proceeds, QA follows the process traveler instructions performing the necessary inspections and test verifications as specified for each build.  This process is repeated until all assemblies have successfully completed fabrication and required testing.  CTA then performs a final, pre-ship inspection of all units and ensures that all paperwork and action items have been completed or closed.

Delivery: After the completed build has passed its pre-ship inspection and all files have been closed out, CTA holds a project review prior to delivery.  This review addresses the history of the build and includes any problems encountered and how they were resolved.  Any configuration changes are reviewed and any process improvements identified during the fabrication phase are documented for inclusion in future builds.  Finally, the delivery schedule is reviewed to verify that proper arrangements are made.

Build-to-print capabilities include:

• Mechanical packaging
• Build-to-print manufacturing
• Electro-mechanical systems re-engineering
• COTS (commercial of the shelf) equipment incorporation
• Digital, analog, and RF hardware design and development
  • Airborne, ground-based, shipboard, and laboratory applications
• Software development and maintenance