September 2, 2020

IP Theft and National Security Responses

September 2, 2020 by Kevin Gholston

IP Theft and National Security

IP Theft and national security have been in the news a lot of late. Most of this news has been centered around the activities of the Chinese military. As a result commercial and defense technologies are at risk. Fortunately, the United States has implemented a number of measures aimed protecting sensitive information.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

In 2018 President Donald Trump signed into law legislation creating the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). This action enhanced the mission of the the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) which was founded in 2007. CISA provides programs and services to help the public and private sectors understand and manage risk associated with cybersecurity.

This activity pertains to the security of Intellectual Properties (IP) and the security of infrastructure assets. CISA with the National Risk Management Center (NRMC) works to identify, analyze, and prioritize significant risks to IP and infrastructure. As a part of its activities regularly releases advisories and articles to inform the public of cyber developments and agency initiatives.

Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)

The CMMC was created to ensure a cyber-safe, cyber-secure, and cyber-resilient defense industrial base. The defense industry supply chains are comprised of organization that vary in size and capabilities. The CMMC was implemented largely due to the failure of industry to implement systematized approaches to cybersecurity.

CMMC establishes a tiered system of certification that suppliers and contractors must have to conduct business on defense contracts. This system requires Department of Defense (DoD) contractors to implement a NIST SP 800 171 cybersecurity framework.

National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST)

The National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) has conducted research and development to protect information systems. It does this by providing standards, guidance, mechanisms, tools, metrics and best practices. Specific areas of involvement include cryptography, security engineering, and risk management.

CVG Strategy

CVG Strategy is concerned about IP theft and national security. The theft of intellectual property cost businesses billions of dollars a year. This economic espionage is a security risk for all sectors of our society. As a result, we are committed to helping organizations implement effective Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). A properly designed ISMS can allow your organization to assess risk and establish processes to proactively engage cybersecurity practices. Contact us today to see how we can help.

Sensors Transforming Manufacturing Towards Industry 4.0

December 16, 2020September 2, 2020 by Kevin Gholston

Sensors are transforming manufacturing and moving us toward what is being called Industry 4.0. Today’s sensors provide cost effective solutions to measurement and monitoring requirements.

What is Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0 builds on the computer revolution of Industry 3.0 by combining intelligent devices by way of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Internet of Systems (IoS). This machine to machine communication can be harnessed to create a smart factory that is more efficient and productive. This is because integrated intelligent devices can monitor, analyze, and diagnose production independent of human interaction.

Developments in Sensor Technology

Advances in hybrid electronics and the development of low-cost flexible circuits are innovations that are driving sensor technology forward. These devices often incorporate micromechanical systems (MEMS) at the semiconductor level to combine functions and provide digital signal transmission. An example of combined functions would be a sensor that can measure electrical current, temperature, and vibration.

Uses of Sensors on the Manufacturing Floor

Sensors can be incorporated into condition monitoring and predictive maintenance programs to gather information from machinery and systems critical to production. This data can be used to detect critical stresses conditions before failure occurs. As a result production downtime can be greatly reduced.

Sensors in Quality Control

Sensors are also transforming manufacturing in quality control. They provide precise measurement and are of great value where there are tight tolerances. These sensors also can perform inspection processes in a highly repeatable fashion resulting in representative data. Applications for quality control include temperature, coating thickness, torque, dimensional measurement, and location or orientation.

Sensors for Facility Management

Sensors can be implemented in facility management to improve asset management, control energy costs, and detect environmental issues. This can greatly increase efficiency and maintain regulatory requirements.

Information Integration and Quality Management

Data gathered from sensors, once analyzed, can provide metrics to increase quality and efficiency. This can greatly increase the scope and pace of a Quality Management System. To accomplish this processes and procedures must be created to effectively analyze and integrate this data. This can provide a much more dynamic, real time assessment of quality parameters and allow for rapid corrective actions and optimizations.

CVG Strategy Quality Management Solutions

CVG Strategy quality management experts can tailor solutions to your business requirements. We have experience in ISO 9001:2015, AS9100D, ISO 27001:2013, AAR M 1003, and ISO 13845:2016. Our experts can provide guidance and the essential training to help you achieve a more efficiently run business with improved customer satisfaction.

Components for Hypersonic Applications – Considerations

April 7, 2021September 2, 2020 by Jamie Hamilton

Components for hypersonic applications are required for an increasing number of Department of Defense (DoD) projects. These components and assemblies must be able to function under very demanding circumstances. Typical stresses include altitudes exceeding 100,000 feet, rapid temperature changes, vibration, pyroshock, and acceleration. This provides unique challenges to designers and those involved in test and evaluation.

Design Challenges for Components for Hypersonic Applications

Current defense designs can involve flight speeds of anywhere from Mach 5 (3,800 mph) to Mach 10 (7,600 mph). Future designs may reach speeds near Mach 30 (23,000 mph). This produces high levels of vibration, shock, and heat.

These stresses require that each device for a printed circuit board must be carefully selected. Furthermore, care must be taken in the design of circuit boards to avoid failures at connection points. Care must also be taken to prevent resonances that can destroy components or cause intermittent failures due to to piezoelectric effects.

These requirements for rugged designs are driving development of new cooling, adhesive, and dampening solutions. The outcomes will likely result in revolutionary technologies.

Hypersonic Test and Evaluation Requirements

Often testing for these designs must be performed for both qualification and acceptance of system components. This requires vast resources of test equipment and test facility time. Additionally, because parameters are extreme, equipment capable of performing a test can be difficult to find.

To complicate matters, test values can often fall outside the capabilities of test equipment at both ends of the spectrum. This can be the case with pyroshock where a value is too large for an electodynamic shaker systems but beyond the lower limits of a resonant beam device. Pyroshock is a critical test because it involves dynamic forces with a frequency range extending to 10,000 Hz.

CVG Strategy Product Testing Services

CVG Strategy provides program management for defense and commercial test and evaluation. We can work with multiple test facilities to coordinate testing on high end test equipment required for analysis where reliability is essential. Our experts can ensure that testing is performed as required and that essential data is recorded. Contact us for answers and solutions to your test and evaluation challenges.