Departure from Specifications

program. This means that an item certified as SUB SAFE

A departure from specification is not required for

meets a certain testing or fabrication requirement and

nonconforming conditions discovered and not

can be used as intended in a critical hull integrity or

caused by maintenance or a maintenance

pressure-containing role. On the other hand, material

attempt. Specifically, for items that routinely fail

verification pertains to the level I program. An item

and for which corrective action is planned, only

specified as level I has had its material composition

a CSMP entry is made.

tested and verified. This testing and verification ensures

traceability from the material back to a lot or batch to

SUPERVISOR'S REPORTING

ensure that material composition complies with

PROCEDURES

procurement specifications. This traceability from

material back to lot or batch is done through the assigned

You and your workers who perform maintenance

controlled material number, either a locally assigned

have an obligation to perform every repair according to

number or one assigned by the vendor.

specifications. When a departure is discovered, it is the

responsibility of the person(s) finding it to report it.

DEPARTURE FROM SPECIFICATIONS

There are several causes for workers failing to

report departures from specifications. You must stress

Specifications are engineering requirements, such

to all of your workers that any deviation from

as type of material, dimensional clearances, and

specifications must be recorded, reviewed, and

physical arrangements, by which ship components are

approved by the proper authority. This is sometimes

installed, tested, and maintained. All ships, surface and

caused by the lack of adequate inspection, QC, and

submarine, arc designed and constructed to specific

management of the process for determining compliance

technical and physical requirements. As a supervisor,

with specifications. Sometimes workers simply do not

you must ensure your personnel make every effort to

understand the specification requirements. Another

maintain all ship systems and components according to

cause is a lack of training in the skills necessary to meet

their required specifications. There are, on occasion,

specifications. The lack of time for adequate planning

situations in which specifications cannot be met. In such

and parts procurement, thereby requiring an emergency

cases, the system or component is controlled with a

temporary repair instead of a permanent repair, is

deviation from specification. To maintain a precise

another direct cause for workers failing to comply with

control of any ship's technical configuration, any

specifications. From this discussion, you can see the role

deviation you make must be recorded and approved as

you as a supervisor play during this all-important

a departure from specification.

process.

DEFINING A DEPARTURE FROM

TYPES OF DEPARTURES FROM

SPECIFICATION

SPECIFICATIONS

Plainly put, a departure from specification is a lack

There are two types of departures that affect you and

of compliance with an authoritative document, plan,

the reporting procedures-major and minor. We will

procedure, or instruction. As a minimum, departures are

briefly discuss each of them in the following paragraphs.

required when the following situations occur:

There is a lack of compliance with cognizant

Major Departure from Specifications

technical documents, drawings, or work

procedures during a maintenance action that will

A major departure from specifications is any

not be corrected before the ship gets underway.

departure from specifications that affects the reliability

There is a lack of compliance with specifications

of the ship's control systems, watertight integrity, or

for "as found" conditions during a maintenance

personnel safety. Major departures from specifications

action for which no prior action is held (such as

require approval from higher authority. If you have a

a shipyard waiver) that will not be corrected

departure from specifications that falls into any of the

following categories, consider it a major departure:

before the ship gets underway.

There is a lack of compliance with a specification

Any departure that directly involves the safety of

the ship or personnel

discovered and no corrective action is planned.

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