IMS ANC Approach

The following was motivated by our discussion on 3/5/91.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

I presume that you have seen the presentation accompanying our "Increase Shareholder Value" approach to our business future for the next three years: "Hold margin (Generate Cash)" and "Downsize" until we achieve the "Rightsize" and "Optimize" so we can be cash rich when other companies are cash poor, then buy good companies inexpensively and thereby increase market share.

A. Resource sharing among divisions is consistent with the "Facilities Consolidation" part of phase 1 of this vision.

B. Engaging in commercial enterprises is consistent with the "Achieve Portfolio Balance" part of phase 3.

C. Engaging in synergistic activities is consistent with the "Leverage Off of Strengths" part of phase 3.

Consistent with the new corporate vision are the following.

PLANS

1. Help Ed Ewing recoup the esteem and credibility he lost when he championed those who told him they supported the acquisition of DEVTECH, but who were less enthusiastic when subsequently questioned by Ralph Haws. The acquisition was nixed by Haws, but key personnel and their Hyperknowledge technology were later acquired by ED. This could be accomplished by telling the DEVTECH story, including Ed's contribution, and announcing the successes of Hyperknowledge to the corporation via GD News and EM/OS (I still have the EM/OS distribution list I used to promote the acquisition of DEVTECH).

2. Co-develop a draft plan with the the Fort Worth Division (FWD) to migrate the existing FWD/DSD ANC technology and manufacturing resource data base and data management system to other GD Divisions in support of A above. Initial planning funded by FWD and DSD-WC.

3. Co-develop a draft plan with the Convair and Electronics Divisions (CVD and ED) to utilize the Hyperknowledge technology to generalize ANC technology into a process definition tool (problem decomposition/classification based on product definition, strategic solution, tactical solutions, optimization, operational solutions, logistics, operator and machine instructions) for generative process planning in addition to generative NC in support of C above. Initial planning funded by ED and DSD/WC.

4. Have Ed Ewing support the improvement and detailing of the plans for his subsequent sponsorship.

5. Get the plans approved and funded.

6. Implement the plans.

7. If these plans are implemented in conjunction with maintaining our strong NC post processor resources (part of DSD-WC CAD/CAM 565-4), GD will be well positioned to provide commercial manufacturing planning services in which GD or a subsidiary would receive part/assembly definitions (eg. solid models) and a description of the manufacturing resources available from customers, and in exchange for cash, return all of the information necessary to fabricate/assemble the parts right the first time in support of B above. A plan to capitalize on this potential should be initially funded by DSD/WC and ED, and later supported by Ed Ewing.

8. Independent of the previously mentioned plans should be a plan to utilize the thermoplastics design, analysis, manufacturing preparation and fabrication technology that was demonstrated at DEVTECH and acquired by GD: Intelligent Design and Manufacturing Synthesis (IDMS) as applied to Thermo-Plastic Auto-Consolidation (TPAC). This process automates the design, analysis, process planning and tool design and fabrication process, and thereby validate that the design is indeed producible and the result will in fact meet the requirements. Consequently, it can provide accurate cost and duration estimates. Most importantly, it eliminates manual lay-up, the need for autoclaves, the set-up therefore and the variables they introduce into the fabrication process. Refer to "Intelligent Design and Manufacturing Synthesis (IDMS), Concurrent Design and Engineering, the Hyperknowledge Approach", document 11.000xCDE. Perhaps the most profitable way to utilize this technology is to establish a GD subsidiary that provides thermo-plastic parts based on customer performance specifications in exchange for cash in support of B above. A plan to capitalize on this potential should be initially funded by DSD/WC and ED, and later supported by Ed Ewing.

9. In anticipation of the success of 8 above, a plan to expand the applicability of IDMS beyond thermo-plastics to include other materials (metals) and the fabrication/inspection processes (material removal) associated with them should also be prepared in support of B above. This expansion should capitalize on 7 above and result in a general purpose commercial manufacturing facility notorious for inexpensively producing quality parts on schedule. The plan to capitalize on this potential should be initially funded by DSD/WC and ED, and later supported by Ed Ewing.

For further information related to the Hyperknowledge technology or its related products, contact me at 47195, Ken Happel at 51731, Riny Schoenmakers or Rise Van Zoest at 51746.