MERANT adds new dimension to JSF

Lockheed Martin recently selected MERANT to provide the software management environment for the aircraft manufacturer's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. MERANT's PVCS Dimensions will be used as the asset management repository, accessible to manage and protect all software assets developed by Lockheed Martin and all of its JSF partners and suppliers.

"PVCS Dimensions will be used as the developmental configuration management system for all software developed on the Joint Strike Fighter program," said Mike Lloyd, Lockheed Martin Principal Software Engineer on the Joint Strike Fighter. "The goal of reducing costs through a joint program brings additional challenges. Coordinating multiple requirements across global contractors to deliver customer-specific variants significantly increases the complexity of this program. Using PVCS Dimensions will reduce the risks associated with these challenges."

Comprehensive metadata and a powerful process engine enable PVCS Dimensions to manage software change of almost any complexity level. Every object is stored, along with its attributes and relationships, to enable process-based configuration management and dynamic visibility into project dynamics.

PVCS Dimensions' change acceleration process was designed to support a company's internal culture while instilling the ability to manage change. The process includes the assessment of corporate change management needs, strategy development, proof-of-concept, deployment, and knowledge transfer of best practices.

Lockheed Martin has already successfully used PVCS Dimensions in the F-22 program to streamline the configuration change process. Some benefits realized by the program include the elimination of review board meetings and reduced paperwork.

According to MERANT, PVCS Dimensions will enable the JSF teams and subcontractors to be efficient and predictable when managing and building various versions of product components, as well as to track and maintain all of the changes, completely within a user-defined process workflow. In such a framework, process automation creates a closed loop over the entire change process, from the emergence of an issue to its final resolution, thereby accelerating development.

Multi-use affordability in a military aircraft, a driving force of the JSF program, will take advantage of MERANT's PVCS Dimensions to reduce costs, manage the product development life cycle, enable software code re-use across differing project teams, align various contributors and companies, and ensure the process at every phase. Originally developed to handle the complexities of military product configurations, the solution was designed to protect development assets under highly demanding complex team environments, with adherence to strict process and certification requirements.

- Frank Bokulich