Major Management & Systems Engineering Ideas for Reducing Costs Peter Wizinowich NGAO Team Meeting September 11-12, 2008

2 Discussion Points Schedule Leveraging & Collaboration Lower cost approaches Efficiency Responsibility Contingency –Risk reduction –Cost estimation

3 Schedule Each year we carry over the dollars we lose ~5% on the remainder Make procurements early when we can –Will need to make case for long lead procurements at PDR Make sure schedule supports efficiency & team effectiveness

4 Leveraging & Collaboration Leverage work by others even if not our perfect path (IRIS pickoff) Collaborate to reduce costs or risk (laser, MASS) Risk reduction experiments at LAO Understanding & optimizing concepts (MOAO working group) Leverage faculty & students (SAT) Leverage other Keck development activities (MAGIQ, DCS upgrade) Science instrument built with non-NGAO funds (possible telescope time trade)?

5 Lower Cost Approaches To what extent do we want to & can we use lower cost labor between our Institutions? Utilize the best vendors (experience, cost, delivery) Use existing technology where possible Trade between low cost & risk Video conference versus travel

6 Efficiency Full time personnel Make sure resources available when needed Clarity on requirements, deliverables, interfaces, WBS scope, etc. Early identification & resolution of problems Early decision making to keep team moving Identify dependencies & make sure dependent tasks aren’t delayed Stay on schedule

7 Responsibility Everyone responsible for D2C and B2C Project’s success depends on all of us Look for opportunities Think about the cost implications of decisions

8 Contingency Lower risk  less dollars need to be held in contingency Risk reduction ideas: Collaborate with others to ensure lasers available & affordable Utilize LAO for risk reduction experiments Monitor the relevant efforts of others See programmatic & technical risk KAONs for what we proposed for SDR Fixed price contracts lower risk (potentially higher cost up front)

9 Contingency Better cost estimates  less dollars need to be held in contingency Cost estimation ideas: NFIRAOS cost comparison Use of commercial products where possible Quotes Demonstrated experience on similar tasks

10 Cost Comparisons