LMI Experts Champion Digital Engineering for Defense Sustainment

Perspective

LMI Experts Champion Digital Engineering for Defense Sustainment

February 4, 2021

Ben Kassel, Sr. Consultant, Mechanical Engineering Bruce Kaplan, Fellow, Logistics Strategy and Integration

Digital Supply Chain | Logistics | Data Engineering

For the Department of Defense, enterprise-wide implementation of digital engineering techniques would lower costs, increase weapon systems’ mission-capable rates and afford flexibility in fleet modernization.

In an op-ed for C4ISRNET published Wednesday, February 3, 2021, LMI’s Ben Kassel and Bruce Kaplan propose ways to accelerate adoption of these techniques, which hinges on the availability of 3D, model-based technical data.

"Today’s sustainment practices too closely resemble those of 30 years ago, not what they should be 30 years from now," they write. "We’re already playing catch up. It’s time to view sustainment with 3D glasses."

About the Authors

A subject matter expert in the definition and exchange of technical data used for naval architecture, marine engineering, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing, Ben joined LMI in 2018 as a technical leader supporting efforts to develop digital thread technologies that enable model-based environments.

Ben Kassel,
Sr. Consultant, Mechanical Engineering

Meet Ben

tDNA: Building the Digital Enterprise for Next-Generation Sustainment

Our Technical DNA (tDNA) approach combines digital engineering, lifecycle management, supply chain risk management, and intellectual property management to ensure that the modern sustainer has the right data at the right time at the right price.

Bruce has more than 35 years of experience in program management, source selection, information systems requirements and tools, and supply chain logistics. With LMI, he formerly served as technical director of a logistics research and development program for the Defense Logistics Agency for 15 years.

Bruce Kaplan,
Fellow, Logistics Strategy and Integration

Meet Bruce