Defense Industrial Base Case Study

Abstract

This Defense industrial base case study encourages critical analysis of a U.S. Defense Department project facing typical management oversight questions regarding industrial base planning with Defense acquisition. The case centers on the capability and capacity of the U.S. Defense industrial base to develop and produce body armor for U.S. Army Soldiers. The case study incorporates the perspectives from key stakeholders to include commercial industry companies, Congressional Committees, U.S. Army senior leadership, and the program management/acquisition chain of command. Considerations include the balancing of limited resources against competing priorities, sustaining inventory for wartime readiness, managing the demand for increased capability, and balancing surge capability with industry capacity. The case study reinforces critical thinking in uncertain environments, documents lessons learned for sound project management for future application and provides exposure to the complexities of public sector acquisition and body armor manufacture in particular.