science

Manufacturing readiness level

Manufacturing readiness level is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Manufacturing readiness level rather than just read about it. In short: The manufacturing readiness level (MRL) is a measure to assess the maturity of manufacturing readiness, similar to how technology readiness levels (TRL) are used for technology readiness. They can be used in general industry assessments, or for more specific application in assessing capabilities of possible suppliers.

Key takeaways

Manufacturing readiness level belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Manufacturing readiness level to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Manufacturing readiness level from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The manufacturing readiness level (MRL) is a measure to assess the maturity of manufacturing readiness, similar to how technology readiness levels (TRL) are used for technology readiness. They can be used in general industry assessments, or for more specific application in assessing capabilities of possible suppliers. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has described it as best practice for improving acquisition outcomes. It was developed by the United States Department of Defense (DOD), who adopted the usage of MRLs in 2005. However, GAO continued to note inconsistent application across DOD components. In 2011, consideration of manufacturing readiness and related processes of potential contractors and subcontractors was made mandatory as part of the source selection process in major acquisition programs. MRLs are quantitative measures used to assess the maturity of a given technology, component or system from a manufacturing perspective. They are used to provide decision makers at all levels with a common understanding of the relative maturity and attendant risks associated with manufacturing technologies, products, and processes being considered. Manufacturing risk identification and management must begin at the earliest stages of technology development, and continue vigorously throughout each stage of a program’s life-cycles. Manufacturing readiness level definitions were developed by a joint DOD/industry working group under the sponsorship of the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel (JDMTP). The intent was to create a measurement scale that would serve the same purpose for manufacturing readiness as Technology Readiness Levels serve for technology readiness – to provide a common metric and vocabulary for assessing and discussing manufacturing maturity, risk and readiness. MRLs were designed with a numbering system to be roughly congruent with comparable levels of TRLs for synergy and ease of understanding and use.

Purpose Manufacturing risk identification and management must begin at the earliest stages of technology development, and continue vigorously throughout each stage of a program's life-cycle Matters of manufacturing readiness and producibility are as important to the successful development of a system as those of readiness and capabilities of the technologies intended for the system MRLs are assessed to:

Define the current level of manufacturing maturity Identify maturity shortfalls and associated costs and risks Provide the basis for manufacturing maturation and risk management Immature manufacturing processes may lead to the following problems:

Inattention to manufacturing during planning and design Poor supplier management planning Lack of workforce knowledge and skills Assessing technology readiness levels does leave some major transition questions unanswered:

Is the level of performance reproducible? What will these cost in production? Can these be made in a production environment by someone without a PhD? Are suppliers monitored and evaluated? Are key materials and components available? Are the limits for production scalability identified? Manufacturing readiness assessments (MRAs) address these unanswered questions in order to reduce manufacturing risk. However, it still does not address the question of whether the product is reliable or maintainable.

Definitions The following has been adopted by the DOD as appropriate in assessing manufacturing readiness levels:

Dimensions in assessing readiness MRLs are assessed in multiple dimensions (referred to as "threads" within DOD):

Technology and industrial base Industrial base Manufacturing technology development Design Producibility program Design maturity Cost and funding Production cost knowledge (cost modeling) Cost analysis Manufacturing investment budget Materials Maturity Availability Supply chain management Special handling Process capability and control Modeling and simulation of production and process Manufacturing process maturity Process yields and rates Quality management, including supplier quality Process Excellence Quality tools – Six Sigma, 5S, Lean, Kaizen, APQP, etc. Manufacturing workforce (engineering and production) Safety training and requirements Tools handling and procedures Procedure training and levels Capacity planning (full time versus part-time) Facilities Tooling, special test equipment, special inspection equipment Facilities Manufacturing management Manufacturing planning and scheduling Materials planning

Examples Several traditional non-proprietary non-confidential examples are described below illustrating the use of MRL methodology in joining manufacturing.

3D-Printing and Additive Manufacturing Example Aeropace Airframe Body Construction Manufacturing Example Automotive Heads and Blocks Casting Manufacturing Example Ultra-fine Grain Titanium Billet Manufacturing Example Space Shuttle External Tank Friction Stir Welding Example

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Manufacturing readiness level

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Manufacturing readiness level claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Manufacturing readiness level before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Manufacturing readiness level ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Manufacturing readiness level

In research: Manufacturing readiness level appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Manufacturing readiness level in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Manufacturing readiness level is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Manufacturing, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Manufacturing readiness level outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Manufacturing readiness level in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Manufacturing readiness level means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Manufacturing readiness level out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Manufacturing readiness level in simple terms?

Why does Manufacturing readiness level matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Manufacturing readiness level?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Manufacturing readiness level.