Goals

THE QUALITY ASSURANCE LINK TO

Distribute required technical information more

MAINTENANCE

effectively.

Establish realistic material and equipment

Accomplishment of repairs and alterations

requirements in support of the maintenance

according to technical specifications has been a

effort.

long-standing requirement for U.S. Navy ships.

To obtain full benefits from a QA program,

Ultimate responsibility to ensure that this requirement

is met rests with the person performing the maintenance.

teamwork must be achieved first. Blend QA functions

To do the job properly, a worker must be

in with the interest of the total organization and you

produce a more effective program. Allow each worker

properly trained,

and supervisor to use an optimum degree of judgment

provided with correct tools and parts,

in the course of the assigned daily work; a person's

judgment plays an important part in the quality of the

familiar with the applicable technical manuals

work. QA techniques supply each person with the

and plans, and,

information on actual quality. This information provides

adequately supervised.

a challenge to the person to improve the quality of the

work. The resulting knowledge encourages the best

These elements continue to be the primary means of

efforts of all your maintenance personnel.

assuring that maintenance is performed correctly. As a

supervisor, you can readily see where you fit in.

QA is designed to serve both management and

production equally. Management is served when QA

Once the need for maintenance is identified, you

monitors the complete maintenance effort of the

must consider QA requirements concurrent y with the

department, furnishes factual feedback of discrepancies

planning and performing of that maintenance. Technical

and deficiencies, and provides the action necessary to

specifications will come from a variety of sources. The

improve the quality, reliability, and safety of

determination of which sources are applicable to the

maintenance. Production is served by having the benefit

particular job will be the most difficult part of your

planning effort. Once you make that determination, the

of collateral duty inspectors formally trained in

maintenance objective becomes two-fold:

inspection procedures; it is also served in receiving

technical assistance in resolving production problems.

1. Ensure the maintenance effort meets all

Production personnel are not relieved of their basic

specifications.

responsibility for quality work when you introduce QA

2. Ensure the documentation is complete, accurate,

to the maintenance function. Instead, you increase their

and auditable.

responsibility by adding accountability. This

accountability is the essence of QA.

It is vital that you approach maintenance planning

from the standpoint of first-time quality.

GOALS

THE QUALITY ASSURANCE

The goals of the QA program are to protect

ORGANIZATION

personnel from hazardous conditions, increase the time

between equipment failure, and ensure proper repair of

The QA program for naval forces is organized into

failed equipment. The goals of the QA program are

different levels of responsibility. For example, the QA

intended to improve equipment reliability, safety of

program for the Naval Surface Force for the Pacific

personnel, and configuration control. Achievement of

Fleet is organized into the following levels of

these goals will ultimately enhance the readiness of ship

responsibility:

type commander, readiness support

and shore installations. There is a wide range of ship

group/area maintenance coordinator, and the IMAs. The

types and classes in the fleet, and there are equipment

QA program for the submarine force is organized into

differences within ship classes. This complicates

four levels of responsibility: type commander, group

maintenance support and increases the need for a

and squadron commanders, IMA commanding officers,

formalized program that will provide a high degree of

and ship commanding officer/officers in charge. The QA

confidence that overhaul, installations, repairs, and

program for the Naval Surface Force for the Atlantic

Fleet is organized into five levels of responsibility: force

material will consistently meet conformance standards.

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