Concept Maturity Levels

Abstract

In this paper, the authors introduce and expand on a method first proposed in a paper: “Space Mission Concept Development Using Concept Maturity Levels (CMLs)” (Wessen, R. R. et al 2013). CMLs are a tool to help organizations access and mature a system concept in order to mitigate risks inherent in moving in to later development lifecycles when the feasibility of a concept has not been established. In the first part of the paper, we introduce the benefits and need for organizations to include the concept of CMLs in their systems engineering processes. We then go into more detail defining and explaining the activities and outcomes for each CML. A key application of CMLs is presented by the authors that maps CMLs to the Systems Engineering (SE) development lifecycles as well as to the concept of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). Next, we show how CMLs are an implementation of an older concept referred to as “The Doctrine of Successive Refinement.” Tools to help implement, manage, and mature the project through the various CMLs are presented. Lastly, several organizational approaches are described to help organizations initially mature system concepts faster than more traditional approaches.

Model‐based‐systems‐engineering for conceptual design: An integrative approach

“…Early Team‐X 3 publications by JPL, and later the Team‐A approach 19 has demonstrated reduced time and cost of conceptual design studies and applicability for architecture and trade studies. JPL further addressed Conceptual‐Design embeddedness into the full system lifecycle, described as a set of concept maturation iterations, 20 from Cocktail Napkin to Integrated Design. Recently, Knoll et al 21 .…”