Estimating Work

Sometimes you may have to set other work aside

correctly and that all final details have been taken care

of. Check to be sure that all necessary records or reports

temporarily y until these urgent jobs are completed.

have been prepared. These job inspections serve at least

Careful planning is required to keep up with all

two very important purposes: first, they are used to make

shipboard maintenance and repair work. Some of the

sure that the work has been completed in a satisfactory

factors that you should consider when scheduling

manner; and second, they provide for an evaluation of

maintenance and repair work are as follows:

the skills and knowledge of the person who has done the

work. Do not overlook the training aspects of a job

Size up each job before you let anyone start

inspection. When your inspection of a completed job

working on it. Check the applicable maintenance

reveals any defects or flaws, be sure to explain what is

requirement cards (MRCs) so that you will know

wrong, why it is wrong, and how to avoid similar

exactly what needs to be done. Also, check all

mistakes in the future.

applicable drawings and manufacturer's

technical manuals.

ESTIMATING WORK

Check on materials before you start. Be sure that

all required materials are available before your

You will often be required to estimate the amount

personnel start working on any job. Do not over-

of time, the number of personnel, and the amount of

look small items, such as nuts, bolts, washers,

material that is needed for repair work. Actually, you

packing and gasket materials, tools, and

are making some kind of estimate every time you plan

measuring devices. A good deal of labor can be

and start a job, as you consider such questions as How

saved by the simple process of checking on the

long will it take? Who can best do the job? How

availability of materials before a job is actually

many people will be needed? Are all necessary

started. An inoperable piece of equipment can

materials available?

become a nuisance and a safety hazard if it is

spread around the room in bits and pieces while

However, there is one important difference

you wait for the arrival of repair parts or

between the estimates you make for your own use and

materials.

those you make when your division officer asks for

estimates. When you give an estimate to someone in

Check on the priority of the job and of all other

authority over you, you cannot tell how far up the line

work that needs to be done before scheduling any

this information will go. It is possible that any

job.

estimate you give to your division officer could affect

When assigning tasks, carefully consider the

the operational schedule of the ship. It is essential,

capabilities and experience of your personnel. As

therefore, that such estimates be as accurate as you

a rule, the more complicated jobs should be given

can possibly make them.

to the more skilled and more experienced people.

Many of the factors that apply to the scheduling of

When possible, however, less experienced

all maintenance and repair work apply also to estimating

personnel should be given difficult tasks to do

the time for a particular repair job. You cannot make a

under supervision so that they may gain

reasonable estimate until you have sized up the job,

experience in such tasks. Be sure that the person

checked on the availability of skilled personnel and

who is going to do a job is given as much

materials, and checked on the priority of the various jobs

information as necessary. An experienced person

for which you are responsible. To make an accurate

may need only a drawing and a general statement

estimate of the time required to complete a specific

about the nature of the job. A less experienced

repair job, you must consider (1) what part of the work

person is likely to require additional instructions

must be done by other shops, and (2) what interruptions

and, as a rule, closer supervision.

and delays may occur. Although these factors are also

Keep track of the work as it is being done. In

important in the routine scheduling of maintenance and

particular, check to be sure that the proper materials and

repair world they are also important when you are

parts are being used, that the job is properly laid out or

making estimates of time that may affect the operational

set up, that all tools and equipment are being correctly

schedule of the ship.

used, and that all safety precautions are being followed.

If part of the job must be done by other shops,

After a job has been completed, make a careful

you must consider not only the time actually

required by these other shops, but also the time that

inspection to be sure that everything has been done

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