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The information in this database provides
part acquisition guidelines for Program Managers, System Program Offices, and
Original Equipment Manufacturers in using military and commercially specified
parts for military equipment. It provides guidance on how the Department of
Defense (DoD) and its contractors can cooperatively select devices that will
result in the lowest cost of ownership for the DoD. Device selection is to be
based on cost-effective performance, designed-in high quality and reliability
for a given application.
The use of commercial parts and documents
has increased in today’s military system applications. Program Managers and
system designers hear about and use commercial, consumer, industrial, and
automotive product grade part designations. Because the parts are not as fully
characterized as the traditional military parts have been in the past, the
design implications of using these parts are not well understood.
Commercial parts, often have advantages in
cost, size, weight, performance and availability, have attracted widespread
attention for government and military applications. It is critical that we do
not jeopardize performance of our weapon systems when selecting commercial
parts. It is equally critical, however, to ensure that we can support new and
legacy systems and avail ourselves of the best technology the commercial world
has to offer. This database has been designed to assist with the critical step
of selecting the right parts for the right application. The database defines
three environmental categories from which to select when designing for an
application. Within these categories more is known about the part’s quality and
reliability and this should result in less risk to the application. In addition,
these categories, along with other information contained in this database,
establish an avenue for insertion of non-military parts into military
applications.
I encourage you to use the database during
the design selection process. I also ask that you provide feedback as to the
usefulness of the data and on things that might be done to make the database
more useful.
DIRECTOR
DEFENSE STANDARDIZATION PROGRAM OFFICE