Function Before Fashion: How Ursula Spycher Helps Shape the Army’s Clothing System
Ursula Spycher knows every detail of the Modular Clothing and Equipment System MCES. As a technician and project manager, she accompanied its development from the first idea to practical solutions. In the interview, she reports how ergonomic cuts improve wearability, why standardised accessories provide significant advantages and why, in the MCES, even small products such as a peaked cap can cause surprises.
Fabio Winkelmann, Specialist area Communications, Strategic Staff
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Ursula, when you see someone in full MCES equipment today, what’s the first thing that goes through your mind?
I feel a little proud. Over the last few years, I’ve spent a large part of my working time with MCES and observed its development at close quarters. It will probably be one of the most formative projects in my professional career.
You worked on the MCES right from the beginning. What was the biggest development step for you – something that today is completely different or better than planned at the start?
In the area of combat clothing, we were able to develop a clothing system in which an ergonomic design could be applied. At the same time, we were able to reduce the range of sizes for some articles.
In recent years, I’ve spent most of my working time on the MCES and witnessed its development up close.
Are there any details in the equipment which hardly anyone notices – but you recognise immediately as: “That really was a lot of work”?
We tried to significantly reduce the range of items, in particular where accessory parts were concerned (zips, drawstring stoppers, press studs). This means, for example, that the same drawstring stoppers are used for all articles. Firstly, this simplifies production, and secondly, the Armed Forces Logistics Organisation (AFLO) only needs to hold one single spare part type of the accessory item in the stores.
MCES consists of many parts, 140,000 summer camouflage trousers alone are to be procured.[A1] How do you manage to get such a massive system with so many partners up and running?
For one thing, we chose a multi-supplier strategy for these quantities, which for the summer camouflage trousers 18 means that we have the trousers made up by a total of three suppliers. Right at the start of production, we had regular exchanges with the suppliers to monitor progress and become active in the event of any uncertainties.
How do you test whether a material or a cut really works in use? How there any fixed processes or creative solutions for this?
The material is tested in wearing tests. Exercise scenarios are created for this purpose, which correspond to the operational requirements. We needed creative solutions when we wanted to test the rainwear and unfortunately it hadn’t rained for several weeks. We then promptly relocated the trial to the climatic chamber of the EMPA and had it rain in there.
Why is the camouflage pattern, for example, now no longer black, as it was previously in camouflage dress? What lies behind such design and function decisions?
The camouflage pattern 90 was developed according to the traditional camouflage pattern “Woodland” (for the woods). The new multi-environment camouflage pattern 18 is a versatile camouflage pattern which can be used in various different terrains.
For the Summer camouflage trousers, we worked with three suppliers and closely monitored the production start to respond quickly if neede
Was there a moment in the project which completely took you by surprise? Was there any response, a test result or anything that simply turned out differently than expected?
I had thought that a peaked cap would be a simple product. But in the wearability test, I was proved wrong. Here, the preferences of the individual test persons as well as the fashion trends of the various generations clearly came to the fore. This led to several discussions about this seemingly simple product.
What would you like to see in the future of the MCES system or what would you like to improve?
I would like to see the AFLO operating a change management system, so that – where appropriate or based on new technologies – changes could be implemented without the optical appearance and the intended purpose being impaired.
If you met a young woman who asked you: “What is it that’s exciting about your job?” – what would you answer?
I’m a full-blooded textile engineer, but I’ve never been really interested in the creative or fashionable aspects. In the area of functional clothing, where first and foremost technical solutions are sought and the focus is not simply on appearance, I feel comfortable. It’s always exciting to meet the challenges of the various users, while not disregarding the economic aspects.
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