Priority of Jobs

Deferred jobs do not present much of a problem.

confidence regarding planning and professional

They are usually accomplished when the workload of

matters.

the shop is light and there are few jobs to be done.

You, as a supervisor, must be available to your

When determining the priority of a task, you should

subgroup supervisors, and they, in turn, must be

consider the following information:

available to their subordinates. Ensure that all requests

come up the line in proper fashion. Also, make sure that

The ship's schedule and the effect the

they go down the line in the same fashion. Avoid

equipment will have on the ability of the ship to

collecting request chits at quarters before your petty

perform its mission

officers have a chance to consider them. Don't let your

personnel get their replies in the log room. Pick them up

Whether the work requires someone with special

yourself and return them to the subgroup supervisor.

qualifications

This is a small item, but it reinforces the chain of

Whether or not all the required parts and material

command. Except when dealing with a severe personal

are available

problem, always ask subgroup supervisors to

accompany any of their personnel with whom you must

The work center supervisor should review the work

converse, rather than have them go it alone. This should

for the week with the division officer and determine the

give them confidence in their supervisor and you the

jobs that need to be accomplished right away (priority

benefit of the supervisor's views.

1) and those that can be done at a later date (priority 2).

The work that cannot be completed due to the lack of

As a supervisor, you must be aware of each job as

material or trained personnel should then be deferred to

it is worked by your personnel. Show an active interest

request material or outside assistance (priority 3). When

in the personnel under you. If you do not periodically

work gets sent to an outside activity, you should fill out

check on your subordinates' work, you will soon

a Ship's Maintenance Action Form, OPNAV 4790/2K

become aware of problems at a later time. As a

(fig. 1-1). When filling out this form, you should fill out

supervisor, you must, while keeping your hand on the

all the proper blocks as completely as possible. Refer to

job, keep it off the screwdriver.

figure 1-1 to determine what blocks you must fill out.

You must provide as much technical documentation

INFORMATION ON INCOMING WORK

as possible. You may have to fill out a Supplemental

Form, OPNAV 4790/2L (fig. 1-2), when requirements

Job orders will generally be received in the shop

are not covered by technical documentation.

several days in advance. You should start planning as

If you cannot complete a priority 1 task because of

soon as possible to gain an advantage of time. Much of

ship's schedule or other reasons, you should work on a

your planning may be done before the work is delivered

priority 2 task. In this manner, the shop will be able to

to the work center.

accomplish assigned tasks in a timely and effective

manner.

PRIORITY OF JOBS

SCHEDULING OF WORK

In planning and scheduling work you will have to

The main object in the scheduling of work is to have

give careful consideration to the priority of each job

the work flow smoothly and without delay, since lost

order. Priorities are generally classified as urgent,

time between jobs lowers the overall efficiency of the

routine, and deferred.

work center. Because of the variety of jobs you and your

The majority of job orders will have the routine

personnel will be required to perform, specific work

schedules must be prepared to ensure that all work is

priority assigned to them. Routine jobs make up the

normal workload of the work center, and they must be

completed. Although these schedules list specific job

carefully planned and scheduled so that the daily

assignments, they must be flexible enough to allow for

organization and production can be maintained at a high

changes in priorities, transfer of personnel, temporary

standard.

breakdowns of equipment, unscheduled ship drills, or

any emergency that may arise.

Urgent-priority jobs require immediate planning

and scheduling. Lower-priority jobs may have to be set

You may have to change the schedule of work in the

aside so that urgent jobs can be done.

work center when new high-priority jobs come in.

1-3