Space Range Scheduling and the Lean Aerospace Initiative

This study describes how lean principles and thinking can be applied to space range operations. The "lean" concepts of the right thing, right place, and the right time are applicable and relevant to this study. The basis for the lean concepts and principles considered is the Lean Aerospace Initiative (LAI). The LAI originated from the International Motor Vehicle Program (IMVP) that was conducted by a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The LAI is a collaborative research program involving government, industry, labor, and academia (primarily MIT). The partnership began in 1993 through support of the U.S. Air Force as the Lean Aircraft Initiative and was renamed in 1997 as the Lean Aerospace Initiative when it was realized that lean principles can and should be applied to test and space activities. The partnership allows the exchange of knowledge and research. As a result, it is expected that there will be fundamental improvements and added value in industry and government operations.Air Force Inst of Tech Wright-Patterson AFB OH is the author of 'Space Range Scheduling and the Lean Aerospace Initiative', published 2000 under ISBN 9781423536154 and ISBN 1423536150.