The Effects of the Single Process Initiative on Aerospace Subcontractors.

The purpose of this study was to identify and discuss the difficulties aerospace subcontractors have faced since the implementation of the Single Process initiative SPI. In addition, the thesis provided recommendations to address these difficulties and promote greater industry participation in the SPI. The research determined that aerospace subcontractors have experienced increased costs andor administrative burdens due to prime contractors utilizing the block change process. The methodology used to identify the apparent inequities faced by the subcontractors was a review of current literature and 40 telephone interviews with representatives of aerospace prime contractors and subcontractors. The interview questions either complimented the information garnered from the literature or asked the respondents to provide personal opinions about the SPI. The questionnaires were compared to one another, analyzed and recommendations were generated. Specifically, the recommendations included continue to promote the use of the SPI, open lines of communications between prime contractors and subcontractors through teaming, the Management Council should identify the best possible practices in each proposal, more realism needed with Rough Order of Magnitude estimates, and the Government should better categorize SPI proposals and ensure more timely recommendations from key stakeholders during the proposal approval process.