Reverse Engineering and Technical Data Packages
Reverse engineering is where your engineering brain makes you dangerous—in a good way. When DLA cannot find a qualified source for an obsolete part, they will often fund reverse-engineering efforts so someone like you can become the new source.
Your workflow might look like: obtain sample part, document as-received condition, perform measurements (CMM, 3D scan, manual dims), identify materials and coatings, then create a drawing and 3D model annotated to modern standards.
The technical data package you deliver is not just for one RFQ. It becomes an asset you can reuse for future awards, licensing, or as part of a broader product line (e.g., a family of connector shells or brackets).
Always respect intellectual property boundaries: make sure the government actually has the right to re-procure or reverse-engineer the item, and stay within the scope of that permission.
Mermaid Block — Business Workflow
Mermaid Block — Interaction Sequence
Action List
- Write down one concrete experiment you will run related to this chapter.
- Identify which RFQs, suppliers, or tools you need to test the idea.
- Define a small success metric: a quote submitted, a new supplier found, a script written.
- Schedule a review to capture lessons learned and update your playbook.