APT offers state-of-the-art safety solutions, supporting the U.S. Government with independent analysis and recommendations in the areas of safety, missile testing, and similar operations. Our unique appeal to our customers lies primarily in our responsiveness, dependability, and proven record of finding safe solutions to difficult problems faced by our customers. How do you fly a new and unproven launch vehicle to an impact site 4000 miles away without hazarding the people below? Or, how do you move 1.5 million pounds of explosives through a port without hazarding people in the vicinity? These are examples of some of the problems we have solved for our customers. The majority of APT's work falls into the seven business areas described below. System Safety. Safety engineers are applying system safety techniques to multiple programs. APT has developed multiple processes and tailored those processes for application to specific programs. For example, our 15-step process for applying software safety to computer-controlled systems is implemented with an internal Web site that provides the instructions, illustrations, examples, tools and templates for each step. Range Safety. APT uses the experience of several former flight safety officers and numerous analysts, combined with multiple computerized tools to assess the hazards associated with planned test activities. APT was one of the primary contributors and consensus builders of RCC Std. 321, Common Risk Criteria for National Test Ranges. This standard provides personnel risk criteria and an 8-step process for analyzing the risk associated with test operations varying from short-range missiles to sub-orbital launches. Explosives Safety. In 1997, APT was selected by the four Services and the DoD Explosives Safety Board (DDESB) to lead the development effort of new processes, tools and policy for the greater use of analysis for explosives safety. This effort resulted in assessment protocols and tools, including the Safety Assessment for Explosives Risk (SAFER) model. SAFER and DIRE, a commercial tool used to calculate explosives effects of detonations close to buildings, received the Scientific Research Award at the August 2003 International System Society Conference. These tools support multiple system hazards analyses. APT also supports the hazard classification of explosives for the Army. APT assists the Services in developing explosive tests to improve state-or-the-art modeling in explosives effects. Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA). Within the U.S., QRA is an emerging technology supporting multiple safety disciplines. Uses vary widely. APT has been instrumental in bringing consistency to QRA users in the range safety, system safety and explosives safety areas by developing procedures, protocols and policies used at the local, national and international levels. As an analysis company, APT is asked to conduct numerous quantitative studies to better understand the risk of planned activities. Quality, Reliability and Processes Development. APT provides solutions for hard-to-solve quality and process improvement problems, associated products and services in the aerospace and defense industries. Staff engineers form all disciplines define problems, perform root cause analyses and develop feasible solutions that can be successfully implemented. Recent support included validations of missile assembly and test procedures, analyses of logistics systems and supply pipelines that provide materiel to deployed forces, and reliability analyses of missile safety equipment. Software Development. APT uses many computer models and has recently added a staff of professional software developers. They use SEI and ISO approved processes to develop computer tools and software for use by APT and its customers. Developing Safety Policy. APT has assisted numerous government organizations in defining, developing, and promoting state-of-the-art safety policy. Customers include the Range Commander’s Council (RCC), the DoD Explosives Safety Board (DDESB), the Air Force Safety Center (AFSC), the U.S. Army Technical Center for Explosives Safety (USATCES), Navy Conventional Weapons Safety Office, Marine Corps Systems Command, the Army Strategic Missile Defense Command Safety Office, Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) Safety Office, and Yuma Proving Ground (YPG). APT was recently involved in the re-write of MIL-STD-882E.