Their launching systems are also long lived. The satellites might need to be reprogrammable, the launching systems to be flexible in what they can do. The production systems that produce satellites and launching systems would also need to be flexible so they can be reprogrammed to produce perhaps quite different satellites and launchers, without themselves being significantly altered. Production software and integral circuit production might be designed to provide such flexibility. We might also argue, on the basis of earlier logic, that such production facilities, and the related software development facilities, programs, and skills be kept in excess so that unusual surge can be met.
Widespread flexibility leads to rapid turnover of goods and production methods.
Planning effectively can lead to system acquisition that is flexible in its own right. Outsourcing, flexible design and production, and lowered investment in plant and equipment lead not just to flexible production equipment but also to flexible workforces. Policy makers need to consider human policies to go along with the mechanics of Information Age production change. Such systems can experience discontinuous change . Discontinuous change indicates that complete testing of such software may not be feasible.