Preliminary Preliminary Design Design Review Review: Preferred Preferred Reliability Reliability Practices Practices
Preliminary Preliminary Design Design Review Review: Preferred Preferred Reliability Reliability Practices Practices
Preliminary Preliminary Design Design Review Review: Preferred Preferred Reliability Reliability Practices Practices
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PREFERRED
RELIABILITY
PRACTICES
PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW
Practice:
Conduct a formal Preliminary Design Review (PDR) at the system and subsystem levels prior
to the start of subsystem detail design, to assure that the proposed design and associated
implementation approach will satisfy the system and subsystem functional requirements.
Benefits:
The PDR will provide for increased assurance that the proposed design approach, and the
manufacturing and test implementation plans, will result in an acceptable product, with
minimal project risk.
The PDR process has been used on all JPL-managed projects and science instrument tasks,
including Ranger, Mariner, Voyager, Galileo, Magellan, Topex/Poseidon, MLS, WFPC, and
numerous other science instrument tasks.
Implementation Method:
The responsible project/task manager defines the need for, and initiates the action for
conducting a formal review by contacting the convening authority (generally the next higher
management level). The convening authority, in consultation with the responsible manager,
appoints the review board and a chair, and defines the board charter and schedule.
The review board, under direction of the chair, will conduct the review, and will prepare a
written report to the responsible manager of the findings and recommendations. The board
may elect to use the JPL Recommendation For Action form (RFA) to document
recommendations, which are advisory and are not direction to the manager. The responsible
manager will prepare a written response to the convening authority
addressing the disposition of the review board findings and
recommendations for action. The convening authority will review and
JET
approve these dispositions. PROPULSION
LABORATORY
PRACTICE NO. PD-ED-1215.1
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PDR Agenda. The following items and issues should be addressed at the PDR. (It should be
noted that all items may not apply in all cases, and that additional items may apply in some
cases.)
The PDR allows for an assessment of the design and plans by a group of knowledgeable
persons not directly involved in the activity being reviewed. A formal review can focus many
years of experience on the subject at hand.
Technical Rationale:
The PDR aids the responsible manager in evaluating the quality of the work, and in making
important decisions, including those concerning completion of critical milestones. The review
process should aid in the identification of problems, and the evaluation of design approaches
and options.
PRACTICE NO. PD-ED-1215.1
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Impact of Nonpractice:
One or a number of potential problems which could result in an adverse impact on the
system, subsystem, and/or project might not be identified in a timely manner. This oversight
might later result in a condition having a significant effect on quality, reliability, capability,
schedule, and/or cost.
References: