___a stick that goes bang

After reading some of the Procurement documents I do wonder if perhaps when we do get a contract for lets say the Maul (just because its my favourite). Do we have the ability to fulfil the whole package ie: the training documentation as well as the training staff. Do we even have a curriculum set out to train for this weapons use (in collaboration with its targeted customers of course)? Do we have a final production model specified so that we can write the texts needed?

I remember at one stage drafting an operating manual for a CNC drilling and routing machine. After deciphering the operating manual that was written in Italian and testing its command lines. It was a time consuming effort especially with the continual software upgrades (this was at a time when data storage was crossing over from punched paper tape to magnetic cassette) with each subsequent chapter having to be submitted to the standards manager to be edited before acceptance it felt like the task would never end.

Its nice to see the guns go bang on video but at what level is the background support for the eventful day that we do get asked to supply 500 of these weapons (staggered over a ten month period or some such supply contract). Do we have the component manufacturing operations sourced and forward scoped for their supply ability? Do we have back up suppliers, is the manufacturing documentation ready have we contracted a product designer, have we got manuals written so that staff have a procedure to follow for failures in the weapon.

Its impressive to show the prototype weapons to all and sundry, but it appears that we have been showing prototypes for many years without actually settling on a design and saying this is maul Mk I (for example) with the focus to then sell said weapon.

The question of when will we make a significant sale starts with when will we have a finished design, follows with when will we be ready to manufacture said design, continues with when will we be able to support said design. And then finishes with this is our product.

The question of TRL readiness is paralleled by how mature is our business. Now when we start seeing CEO Bulletins that show where we are at in reality rather than how much interest there is in a new design that is so far off production and supply that we are talking years then the market may have some faith in the company and the integrity of the management.

Until then we are just a kid with a stick that goes bang.