| Summary: | Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. === This theses is an evaluation of the Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS) to determine whether it is likely to solve a host of long-standing problems with use of automatic test equipment (ATE) for support of Naval aircraft. CASS is a new ATE program nearing the end of full scale development which will replace all current ATE systems and many smaller manual testers to form a single, general purpose test system for all intermediate level and some depot level avionic testing. It is intended ultimately to be the Navy standard test system for all NAVAIR and NAVSEA requirements. The study involves an overview of the environment in which ATE is used, a history of ATE problems and development leading up to the start of the CASS program, a detailed description of the program itself, a description of the repair process using ATE, and an evaluation of the CASS program. Its conclusions are that CASS is technically capable of solving or alleviating virtually every significant problem affecting use of existing ATE systems and will lead to large savings in weapon system support costs and improved readiness during surges in operating tempo. Its success is very vulnerable, however, to decisions made during introduction planning. Such decisions include funding cuts which cause the schedule to slip or reductions in CASS system testing performance and maintainability, and decisions resulting from an inaccurate analysis of CASS hardware requirements to support the intended testing load at each site.
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