AWIPS Accelerated Deployment: A Success Story with Lessons Learned

AWIPS is the integrating element of the $4.5B NWS Modernization program. PRC and National Weather Service (NWS) teamed together to deliver 135 AWIPS sites on a 21-month schedule instead of a 28-month schedule. Actual completion was 2 ½ weeks ahead of the accelerated schedule. Delivering AWIPS early brings the benefits of AWIPS to the forecast offices and the advanced warning capabilities to the public.

There were several factors that went into making the accelerated deployment a success. However, these factors can largely be divided into two major segments, i.e., system production and system installation. Production efficiencies increased through material management initiatives involving improved hardware acquisition strategies and production integration procedure and process improvements such that there was a 40% decrease in production time on the Integration Center floor and a 50% increase in throughput. The second major component was the installation efforts, involving not only the actual system installation at the sites, but the on-site System Acceptance Testing (SAT) and Organizational and Central User Training (OUT and CUT). There was an increase in the number of installation engineers, testing, and training personnel to handle the significant requirements of the accelerated schedule. System installations increased to three systems per week, with an average of 13 systems in March through May 1999. This covering locations from Guam to Fairbanks, Alaska; Hawaii to Portland, Maine; Puerto Rico to Spokane, Washington; and Brownsville, Texas to Glasgow, Montana. Again through procedure and process improvements, improved communications, and teamwork with the National Weather Service, the accelerated schedule was met - and exceeded.

This paper describes the efforts of the partnership between NWS and PRC to deliver AWIPS early. This successful partnership delivered AWIPS to all NWS Forecast Offices seven months early.