|
|
|
Foundation ::
Engineering Applications ::
SCAT
|
SCAT
System Commonality Analysis Tool
|
 |
|
SOURCE CODE AVAILABLE
|
|
The System Commonality Analysis Tool, SCAT, was designed to aid managers and engineers in identifying common, potentially common, and unique components of a system. Commonality lowers overall system cost through use of the smallest variety of items or subsystem types in the greatest number of applications. SCAT, through utilization of a comprehensive parts database, determines cost effectiveness by comparing life cycle costs of unique part configurations and standard part configurations. The SCAT database reflects both engineering and financial data. SCAT was instituted as a commonality analysis for the Space Station, but is easily applicable to other projects such as software commonality, which is used as an example in the detailed documentation.
SCAT incorporates three major functions:
- a database creation and maintenance program
- the commonality analysis
- system utilities such as host operating system commands, database load, and unload.
The parts database contains 'generic' attributes needed to calculate life cycle costs, and 'discriminating' attributes for engineering design data. SCAT selects parts which are similar based on user-defined selection criteria. There are two analysis algorithms to choose from. The direct algorithm uses supplied cost figures for design, development, testing and first product calculations. The relational algorithm estimates these costs based on complexity factor (simple, medium, complex), item type (electrical, mechanical, etc.), and the percent new development needed.
SCAT also contains a software commonality algorithm which requires package size, expected number of years of use, and whether the programs are missioncritical, developed in-house, or dependent on hardware which is not yet available. SCAT produces reports which tabulate maintenance, initial configuration, and expected total costs. By examining systems made of unique parts, and systems made of parts having comparable functions, SCAT can help determine which parts are good commonality candidates. SCAT is menu-driven and includes an on-line help facility.
SCAT carries the NASA case number MFS-28207. It was originally released as part of the COSMIC collection.
|
|
More software from National Technology Transfer Center
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open Channel Software runs entirely on Open Source Software. We return
value to the Software community in the form of
services and original software. Most of our
content is currently available as source code, with the
copyright owned by the original author, All
Rights Reserved. Everything else is Copyright
©2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Open Channel Software.
View our privacy statement.
Contact webmaster at openchannelsoftware dot org with questions.
|
|
|
