Description / Abstract:
This document applies to the development of Plans for
integrating and managing COTS assemblies in electronic equipment
and Systems for the commercial, military, and space markets; as
well as other ADHP markets that wish to use this document.
For purposes of this document, COTS assemblies are viewed as
small electronic assemblies such as printed wiring assemblies,
relays, disk drives, LCD matrices, VME circuit cards, servers,
printers, laptop computers, etc. There are many ways to categorize
COTS assemblies1, including the following spectrum:
•At one end of the spectrum are COTS assemblies whose
design, internal parts2, materials, configuration
control, and qualification methods are at least partially
controlled, or influenced, by aerospace customers (either
individually or collectively). An example at this end of the
spectrum is a VME circuit card assembly. While the design, internal
parts, materials, configuration control, and qualification methods
are controlled by the assembly suppliers, the assemblies are
targeted for ADHP applications, and thus the manufacturers expend
considerable effort to understand their customers' needs; and they
design, produce, and qualify their products accordingly. VME
assembly suppliers are sensitive to feedback from their customers,
and are willing to make changes in response to that feedback. The
response is only general, however, and it is not likely that a
specific change will be made unless the supplier determines it to
be beneficial to the product's market performance.
•At the other end of the spectrum are COTS assemblies
whose design, internal parts, materials, configuration control, and
qualification methods are not controlled, or controllable, in any
way by ADHP customers (either individually or collectively). An
example is a disk drive targeted for an industry other than
aerospace. Aerospace customers are not likely to obtain any
information beyond the published data sheet; furthermore, the data
sheet, and other important information, may be changed without
notice. Typically, it is not possible for aerospace customers to
purchase these assemblies to a specific issue of a data sheet.
It is critical for the Plan owner to (1) review and understand
the design, internal parts, materials, configuration control, and
qualification methods of all "as-received" COTS
assemblies3, and their capabilities with respect to
their application in the System; (2) identify risks, and where
necessary, (3) take additional action to mitigate the risks
associated with the performance and reliability of the COTS
assembly in the ADHP system.
1 The distinction between an electronic component and
an electronic assembly is not always recognized or agreed upon by
the various industries involved; for example, filters, contactors,
power supply modules, relays, magnetic assemblies, etc., may be
considered as either components or assemblies. In each application,
it is a recommended practice for the user of this document to
clarify this distinction.
2 Requirements for managing the electronic components
within electronic assemblies may be found in References 1-3, which
describe the ADHP Electronic Management Program (ECMP). In some
cases, it may be appropriate to view the COTS assembly as a
component that can be managed with ECMP processes, using the
requirements of References 1-3
3 It is noted that some assemblies are completely
within the control of the aerospace customer, but they are not
considered COTS, and are not addressed in this document.