Accession Number:

ADA188214

Title:

The Packard Commission, a Financial Critique.

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis,

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Tryon, Michael P.

Report Date:

1987-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

61.0

Abstract:

This thesis evaluates the Packard Commission recommendation to use commercial integrated circuits in military application form an economic perspective. The research indicates that while the procurement cost of Qualified Products List QPL devices is higher than commercially procured devices, the reliability of QPL devices is significantly better vis-a-vis the commercial integrated circuit. The primary contributing factor in the high procurement costs appears to be a result of having to manufacture QPL integrated circuits in the continental United States, not because of excessive documentation as claimed by the semiconductor industry in general. Furthermore, utilization of the QPL process does not have a negative impact on the availability of integrated circuits. Rather, the availability of such circuits is increased.

Descriptors:

• *COMMERCE
• *HIGH COSTS
• *INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
• *MILITARY APPLICATIONS
• *PROCUREMENT
• *SEMICONDUCTORS
• COSTS
• ECONOMICS
• IMPACT
• INDUSTRIES
• RELIABILITY
• THESES
• UNITED STATES

Subject Categories:

• Electrical and Electronic Equipment
• Economics and Cost Analysis

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE