They're still learning

'They' is the Defense Department. They've had management problems in the past. And they still have them. The latest GAO report compared quality management practices of DOD against those used by leading commercial companies. Need I say that DOD doesn't compare well?

The report reviews eleven weapons systems projects. In almost every project the fundamental problem was poor system engineering. In more than half, we spent more money - a lot more - to produce fewer than we had requested and to receive them later than projected.

A couple of especially egregious examples:

• Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle - four years late, $750,000,000 extra
• F22A fighter jet - cracks in the canopy grounded the plane
• SATCOM satellite - 18 months late because a contractor installed fasteners incorrectly.

It seems as though the pressure to get the systems operational quickly causes DOD to approve poor designs, insufficient testing, bad parts and poor manufacturing controls.

Maybe, someday they'll get it right, but I wouldn't bet on it.