Product Reliability through Integrated Packaging and Handling

Space Scientists and Engineers are under continuing pressure to establish increasingly rigid performance parameters in product design. The ever changing technical "state of the art" of space products dictates companion changes in the "state of the art" of supporting technical endeavors such as industrial engineering. One vital area in which industrial engineering must react in close concert with technical changes is material handling and packaging engineering. Material handling and packaging engineers must devise techniques, devices and systems to protect product performance parameters. In many instances, elements of the space industry have used a piecemeal approach to solve protective packaging and handling problems - with piecemeal results. A practical concept is needed to enable application of optimum industrial engineering to problems related to protection of space product reliability. This concept embraces recognition that space product manufacturers are part of a vast invention complex - and that this complex, in turn, is nothing more or less than an involved material flow. Accordingly, to enhance chances of space products to reliably perform; thoroughly integrated, cradle-to-grave protective packaging and handling systems and programs must be devised to cover every segment of the material flow - from raw materials to consumption. The manner of adoption of this concept by Lockheed's Missiles and Space Company and its efforts to bring to fruition practical results is presented.