Consultancy

Solution Design

Service solution design is the primary consultancy service provided by the company. For most service projects this work is performed during the bid phase. The scope of a service solution project can include equipment operation, base operation, maintenance, logistics, engineering and training.

Consultancy can begin with the provision of advice on the scope of work for a service solution design proposal. This can include identification of the proposal team members and its structure.

The image above identifies in blue the systems engineering process which is used as the structure for solution design. Values Analysis (in green), and the production of a Value Proposition, is categorised as a ‘business winning’ activity which is performed in parallel with Requirements Capture and Management. The company specialises in performing these activities either as a service to its clients or working in conjunction with client personnel. 

The identification of values and requirements includes a combination of data capture and workshop activities. The company helps its client to understand what data is needed and how this data can be captured. The company can also facilitate workshops to ensure an appropriate approach is taken and the outcome produces the required products i.e. a set of user and system requirements (with associated assumptions) and a Value Proposition. 

Values and requirements are used to inform Functional / Behaviour Analysis and the development of a Functional Model. The company provides advice on the approach to performing these activities and can develop the model on behalf of clients. The company will typically use third party software tools such as Business Modeller or MEGA to aid the development of the functional model.

An Architecture Design Document is normally established. This document provides a description of the design process and includes the identification of the solution architecture, which could be in the form of a Functional Model or a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

The image above identifies a flow process for design. Values, requirements and the functional model inform Design process activities. Dependent on specific circumstances, the design process is likely to include an ‘As-Is’ analysis which will identify the current situation and any problems which need to be addressed. The Problem Analysis will focus on the problems and develop ‘to-be’ solution options. Typically a range of options are developed and assessed. Once options are assessed trade off of options can be performed to down select to a preferred set of ‘best’ options. This preferred set constitutes the revised / new design.

The design analysis often includes underpinning qualitative and quantitative modelling. The image above identifies a range of different types of modelling, models and examples of input data. For a given project there may be a number of different model types. On these projects the management and integration of the suite of models is a key enabling capability. The Company specialises in the selection and use of modelling techniques and provides advice, guidance and assistance with this area. This can include ongoing integration of the modelling suite.  The company is particularly experience with process modelling and the use of simulation modelling tools such as RamLog.  

Modelling is often a key part of Test and Acceptance. This is due to the nature of service projects where a prototype or demonstration model is typically not an option. A process model can aid scenario testing and deterministic or simulation models aid an understanding of throughput over time answering questions such as; how many? How often? How much?

The description above is relatively high level and there is much more detail in the performance of these activities. For brevity and intellectual property rights reasons, this deeper level detail is not described in this content.
The company has worked on a number of different types of performance based defence service projects for clients such as BAE Systems and Rolls Royce.

Facilitation

Facilitation of workshops and meetings is a key company competency. Service design meetings often include a range of different personality types from different organisations with conflicting agendas. It is therefore important to understand human behaviours in such situations and be able to ‘draw out’ information and opinion. The company has successfully facilitated many workshops and meetings of this type.

Bid Support

The Company can provide bid support in a number of ways. At the strategic level the Company can provide advice on the structuring of the bid process for support solution projects. For example the bid process and bid team organisation. At a deeper level the Company can provide day-to-day consultancy working within the bid team. In this capacity the Company could act in a directing or supporting role. On some projects the Company has worked in a specific role such as that of solution architect. On other projects the Company has provided directing advice and facilitation support for meetings and workshops. The Company is happy to work with clients to determine the best way to provide its specialist support.

Service Solution Design is typically the main focus for bid support. The Company offers consultancy and training services on the overall process of support solution design and on specific elements of this process. The Company advocates the use of a model based systems engineering approach to the support solution design process. Within the systems engineering framework the Company advises on the use of a number of specific techniques such as; Value Proposition, ‘To-Be’ Visualisation, Qualitative and Quantitative modelling (to aid design and test of the solution). This can include the development and testing of performance and value metrics. Ultimately these activities aid understanding of the solution scope (including answering questions such as; how many? how often? and how much?) and the reduction of risk. This consultancy can include strategic advice on aspects such as solution operational organisation structure.  

Support Engineering

To help with traditional or outsourcing support solution design, the Company offers consultancy services for the performance of Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) and Logistic Support Analysis (LSA). This can include requirements, strategy and plans for either customer or industry organisations. This may be in support of Request for Proposal (RFP) development or a bid. This includes the establishment of an ILS Statement of Work, writing proposals, marking proposals and providing advice on tailoring of ILS and LSA programmes.

The Company also offers consultancy services for the planning, management and performance of LSA tasks. The Company has extensive experience in performing all aspects of LSA including;

• Tailoring and the development of LSA Plans
• Costing LSA activities
• Performing all LSA Tasks including modelling and trade-off analysis
• Tailoring and development of the LSA Record (LSAR)
• Producing and using LSA outputs

Business Process Analysis & Improvement

The Company offers consultancy services for the performance of analysis and modelling activities that underpin Business Process Management (BPM). This typically includes ‘as-is’ and ‘to-be’ analysis and modelling. The content of this work can include process and dynamic techniques to identify and understand current issues and assess potential future change options. Where appropriate business process modelling is performed using Business Modeller or MEGA and the Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) standard. Dynamic modelling has been performed using the RamLog software tool.