Responsibilities for Quality of Maintenance

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR QUALITY OF

following the completion of a task or series of

MAINTENANCE

tasks. QA inspection of work areas following

task completion by several different personnel is

Although the CO is responsible for the inspection

an example of a final inspection.

and quality of material within a command, he or she

You have the direct responsibility as production

depends on the full cooperation of all hands to meet this

supervisor to assign a collateral duty inspector at the

responsibility. The responsibility for establishing a

time you assign work. This allows your inspector to

successful program to attain high standards of quality

make the progressive inspection(s) required; the

workmanship cannot be discharged by merely creating

inspector is not then confronted with a job already

a QA division within a maintenance organization. To

completed, functionally tested, and buttoned up.

operate effectively, this division requires the full support

Remember, production personnel to which you have

of everyone within the organization. It is not the

assigned the dual role of inspector cannot inspect or

instruments, instructions, and other facilities for making

certify their own work.

inspections that determine the success or failure in

achieving high standards of quality, it is the frame of

mind of all personnel.

SHIP QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTOR

Quality maintenance is vital to the effective

The SQCI is the frontline guardian of adherence to

operation of any maintenance organization. To achieve

quality standards. In the shops and on the deck plates,

this high quality of world each of your personnel must

the SQCIs must constantly remind themselves that they

know not only a set of specification limits, but also the

can make a difference in the quality of a product. They

purpose for these limits.

must be able to see and be recognized for their

The person with the most direct concern for quality

contributions in obtaining quality results.

workmanship is youthe production supervisor. This

As a work center supervisor, you will be responsible

stems from your responsibility for the professional

for the QA program in your work spaces. You must

performance of your assigned personnel. You must

realize that QA inspections are essential elements of an

establish procedures within the work center to ensure

effective QA program. You are responsible to your

that all QA inspection requirements are complied with

division officer and the QAO for coordinating and

during all maintenance evolutions. In developing

administering the QA program within your work center,

procedures for your work center, keep in mind that

You are responsible for ensuring that all repaired units

inspections normally fall into one of the three following

are ready for issue. This doesn't mean you have to

inspection areas:

inspect each item repaired in your shop personally; you

RECEIVING OR SCREENING INSPEC-

should have two reliable, well-trained technicians to

TIONS. These inspections apply to material,

assist you in QA inspections. To avoid the many

components, parts, equipment, logs, records, and

problems caused by poor maintenance repair practices

documents. These inspections determine the

or by the replacement of material with faulty or incorrect

condition of material, proper identification,

material, you must take your position as an SQCI very

maintenance requirements, disposition, and

seriously. When you inspect a certain step of installation,

correctness of accompanying records and

ensure to the utmost of your knowledge and ability that

documents.

the performance and product meet specifications and

that installations are correct.

IN-PROCESSING INSPECTIONS. These

Most commands that have a QA program will issue

inspections are specific QA actions that are

you a special card that will identify you as a qualified

required during maintenance or actions in cases

SQCI for your command. Each of your shop SQCIs also

where satisfactory task performance cannot be

will be assigned a personal serial number by the QAO

determined after maintenance has been

as proof of certification to use on all forms and tags that

c o m p l e t e d . These inspections include

require initials as proof that certified tests and

witnessing, application of torque, functional

inspections were completed. This will provide

testing, adjusting, assembling, servicing, and

documented proof and traceability that each item or lot

installation.

of items meets the material and workmanship for that

FINAL INSPECTION. These inspections

stage of workmanship. Also, you will be given a QCI

comprise specific QA actions performed

stamp so that you can stamp the QCI certification on the

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