What if it were possible to develop a system that greatly improved the efficiency and excellence of virtually any future engineering, with all its advances and improvements not even imagined now? I am absolutely convinced Bill Simpkins has done such. The development of ARMS is an outstanding game-changing event for engineering innovation and development across the board. It destroys the random, frustrating, seat of the pants hodgepodge generally present in development with a long overdue philosophy and technique that controls the process. ARMS is structured teamwork, strongly supported by GUI software. I believe that years from now the enterprise-wide efficient teamwork fostered by ARMS will be a standard for all advanced engineering companies. This will happen because any company that does not adapt its philosophy, principles and tools will find it tough in the marketplace competing with those who do. I advise the reader of these words, no matter which department, to give this book a fair read. You do not have to be an engineer to read this ARMS book. Bill's approach solves the problems I've witnessed in my lifetime in large organizations that are trying to "conquer new worlds." There is not anything even in its class. ARMS is a real-world brilliant approach to bringing incredible teamwork, incredible GUI software, common sense and wonderful experience of successes to Engineering Innovation and Development. Enjoy!Capt. Guy D. GrutersARMS Allocated Risk Management System that has been applied at several Fortune 500 companies, to Automotive Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Solid Oxide Fuel Cycles, Lithium Batteries, Advanced Development Brakes, Medical Implants, Advanced Climbing Wheel Chairs, Non-Plasma Reactors, Piezo Electric Injectors, Regenerative Brake Systems, Sensors, Power Electronic Bays and a large number of Electro-Mechanical Components. ARMS draws on the experience and knowledge of the design team and management to identify risk elements at the conception of a design, throughout development and into production. The value of engineering experience is fully recognized and the visions of the engineering mind are captured in the form of risk assessment percentages. ARMS has been utilized to manage a large DOT project and provide periodic reporting on supplier progress. ARMS may be applied at the very onset of a design or after development has begun. Budgetary saving opportunities are documented design knowledge is capture. Newer engineers gain knowledge from a cross team pollination inherent in ARMS Workshops. ARMS provides Weibull Analysis graphics that combine Engineering Vision to Measured Reality yielding calibrated forecasts.The ARMS Model constructed by the team can easily be applied to a number of "What If" exercises and best use of resources determined. This ARMS approach has been applied by hundreds of engineers across North America and Europe with great success. ARMS has been accepted by the engineering teams where applied and accredited with saving significant budget funds and avoiding some impending disasters. The Design Element Report and Assignable Actions Report provide key input to your Gate Exit Plan and Action Plan. In several cases ARMS, has permitted Customers and Suppliers to participate in the design effort. Additional business has occurred as a direct result of customer reactions to the ARMS environment.
About the Author: Bill Simpkins grew up in Riverside, Southern New Jersey. His father was in charge of the Burlington Electric Power Plant on the Delaware River. This is important for that is where he developed a love for engineering and electro-mechanical designs. Reading his fathers' engineering books and touring the power plant as a child. During studies at Burlington High School Bill was awarded scholarship's To SGI for Electrical Engineering and to the Merchant Marine Academy. SGI was the clear winner. Graduating SGI with an Electrical Engineering degree, he was hired by the Bell Telephone Labs in Murray Hill, N.J. on Long Lines Communications. Bill worked on a number of projects including an E6 negative Impedance Repeater, a unique two terminal device that amplifies voice in both directions when placed across a pair of lines, and designing a Control Console for the Oklahoma City Office. After five years at B.T.L. Bill accepted a position with John Oster Avionics, Racine, Wisconsin working on synchro's, resolvers A.C. and D.C. motors. The company moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and changed names to Sunbeam Electronics, a division of the Sunbeam Corporation. While at Sunbeam Bill continued his education securing a degree in Physics from Florida Atlantic University. Projects included aircraft instrument designs, design of the Sub-Roc Missile fire control system, devices that went to and remained on the Moon with Apollo and to Mars on the Viking Lander System. At the request of NASA, Bill was sent to every supplier who had an electro-mechanical device on the Viking Lander and conducted design reviews and conformation plan reviews. Many of the ARMS techniques were developed during this period. Through these contacts, Bill was asked to solve a problem on the KH11 reconnaissance satellite discussed in the ARMS narrative. As Director of Quality and Reliability for the an ID classified company, many contributions were made to a range of devices required by covert optical systems. Government cutbacks resulted in losing 50 engineers by seniority in his group of 80, including him self. This led to working at Fedders Corporation on Rotary HVAC Compressors to extend longevity and at Emerson (Copeland) Scroll Compressor development as Corporate Director of Quality for 12 years. During this period, an MBA from Mt. Saint Marys' was achieved. Later Hybrid Vehicle Rail cars, Hybrid Electric Cars, and 100's of ARMS' Workshops Across North America and Europe.