29 October 2010

SWRMC,

October has been extremely busy for the Command; we have not relaxed our pace from a very productive September. In this blog I will update everyone on our progress on Surface Ship Readiness Initiative (SSRI), share a great story of our Machine Product Family, bring you up to date on our GS-1-GS-8 interviews, and promote our upcoming Holiday Party. I also want to finish up the post with our Golf Carts!

Last year NAVY Flag Leadership requested a study on how to improve Surface Ship Maintenance. The formal product of this study is referred to as the Surface Ship Readiness Initiative (SSRI). I discussed this briefly in my last post. Many of you had the opportunity to listen to Rear Admiral (select) Gale discuss this in length during his last visit to SWRMC. Although I am sure you know, RDML Gale is Commander Navy Regional Maintenance Center. RDML Gale referred to the five agenda items in the SSRI as the 5 big rocks. These rocks are assessments, sustainment, manning, certification and the stand up of a SurfMep organization.
I want to expand on the assessment “rock,” SWRMC’s role, and our progress to date. Total Surface Ship Readiness Assessments (TSRAs) are in progress for 17 Surface Ships. Seven of these ships are homeported in San Diego. USS CURTS (FFG 38), USS BENFOLD (DDG 65), USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6), USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47), USS DEWEY (DDG 105), USS NEW ORLEANS (LPD 18) and USS SENTRY (MCM 3) are pilot ships. I have taken the liberty to copy the draft policy statement from a soon-to-be released instruction.

This program provides total operational system verifications on surface ships through the execution of engineered surface ship material condition assessments by Regional Maintenance Centers TSRA is a common integrated process to plan, identify, assess, document, repair and validate the configuration of surface ship equipment and systems with the expectation of ensuring operational availability (Ao) goals are met through the execution of total ship systems operational verifications conducted at specific and properly scheduled timelines to support ship operations and maintenance periods. While not an inspection, TSRA completion is a significant readiness preparation event.

TSRA has four individual assessment requirements.

TSRA 1 is an assessment to assist our Maintenance Teams to identify repairs for the next CNO availability. Some of you may remember the POT&I (pre overhaul test and inspection) during our SUPSHIP days. It many ways, TSRA is an old school POT&I.

TSRA 2 is an assessment of structural components of a ship during a CNO availability. This is formalizing our tank and void program that was stood up last year. The goal is to identify slow to degrade items that can be incorporated into the next upcoming depot availability.

TSRA 3 is a pre-deployment assessment. This is what was accomplished as a HM&E inspection during the FTSCPAC days and incorporates the current C5RA assessment. planned in support of advanced unit level training in support of joint exercises such as Joint Task Force Exercises (JTFEX) to ensure ships ability to operate in the battle group.

TSRA 4 is planned in support of special events or mission (i.e. INSURV, Special Missions).

We just accomplished a TSRA 4 on one of our test ships, USS BENFOLD (DDG 65). USS BENFOLD is scheduled for an INSURV inspection in December and our team assessed 2,427 items over a two week period. The Commanding Officer of BENFOLD requested that we identify our repair intentions by 1 November and have all work complete by the end of the month. This may appear to be a massive task but I am confident that SWRMC will be successful. In the larger scope, USS BENFOLD needs our assistance to identify and repair as many discrepancies as possible. INSURV certainly is driving the task but with our involvement a warship will be better prepared to meet their mission.

As we conducted the TSRA 4 we discovered a number of items that could be improved. Ms. Cassie Eichner has captured these items and has used her team of Business Office Communicators (Jason Araujo, David De la Fuente, and Corrine Sparkman) to develop a creative presentation that I will give next week at the Super Hot Wash in Norfolk, VA.

As I walk through the shops and the offices here I am continually impressed by the work I see. Last month I was particularly impressed to see the final touches being made to the Machine Shop’s newest addition. This shop has successfully engineered a machine in-house that will help streamline the fabrication of the flight deck nets.

This is BIG NEWS! First, I had been asking for a better method of manufacturing flight deck nets for the past year and a half. The Production Department was not ignoring my request; they were having difficulty having an outside company develop this tool. After a few false starts with a number of potential bidders our team went back to the basics and developed this tool themselves. WOW! Although it may appear as a simple idea, the effort required to make the idea a reality should not be overlooked. Engineers, machinists, and management all pulled together as a team and have a fantastic example of what defines SWRMC in our Vision Statement. (To be the Navy’s Premier Maintenance Organization). Here is a list of those people who were very important to this project:

Mr. William Sipchen
Mr. Jose Cortez
Mr. Nelson Molina
Mr. Miguel Lopez
Mr. Calvin Booker
Ms. Siobhan Williams
Mr. Gregory Mckenzie
Mr. Chuck Reed
MRFN Raygie Ting
MR2 Raymond Rodriguez
MR2 Walter Sanford

This team deserves the highest praise for their hard work and creativity. Go SWRMC!

If you want an example of what premier is, if you want to touch what premier is, take a walk to our Machine Product Family and ask to see the Command’s latest addition, our flight deck hydraulkic crimping tool.

Prior to this addition our Sailors and Civilians in our Engine Product Famiily had no automated process. To manufacture this woven net, we were using a primitive though effective method: Strength and a simple tool called a hammer. It was unfortunate that this process was a risk to injury. The new machine, however, takes out the danger completely by automating the process. The machine uses a hydraulic press to complete the same process that the Engine Product Family performed by hand. The numbers as a result of this new process speak for themselves: 6 clips in 65 seconds versus 1 clip in 60 seconds. The new machine is improving safety and the time it takes to fabricate by a margin of 6:1. The Machine Shop is still working out the entire process from start to finish, however. The initial project began 18 months ago. The result is now here! Once the table goes into full fledged production, it will produce no more and no less than 2 nets per day. There are two reasons for this. The first is a question of storage. The second reason is due to the fact that the weld shop needs more time per net. They can only meet the call of two net frames a day. Rather than having many extra nets standing by they decided to produce only what was feasible.

I took the task in my role as Strategy Owner to ensure all civilians at and below the grade of GS-8 were interviewed by one of our HR specialists to understand the challenges that were barriers in their career paths. This action is complete, and in the next two weeks I will provide an update on what we learned and what actions are required to address the requests of the individuals that were interviewed. I will partner with our local union, IFPTE Local 32, to ensure that all concerns are properly addressed.

Next up we have the following that lists SWRMC positions currently being recruited through RESUMIX. Please follow the below instructions on how to apply for any of these positions:

-Shipbuilding Specialist, GS-1101-11, code 200
-Electronics Technician, GS-0856-11, code 231A
-Mechanical Engineering Technician, GS-0802-11, code 221A
-Production Controller, GS-1152-12, code 300
-Shipbuilding Specialist, GS-1101-9/11, code 300
-Hyperbaric Systems Operator, GS-0301-11, code 360
-Contract Specialist, GS-1102-13, code 400
-Contract Specialist, GS-1102-11/12, code 400
-Financial Technician, GS-503-6/7/8, Code 600
-General Supply Specialist, GS-2001-9/11, code 910
-Marine Machinery Mechanic, WS-5334-10, code 950
-Production Controller, GS-1152-9/11/12, code 960
-Industrial Mechanic Leader, WL-5352-10, code 1151
-Management Analyst, GS-0343-12, code 1210

To apply, interested candidates must submit their resume to HRSC Southwest, San Diego, CA via the following link: https://webmail.west.nmci.navy.mil/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://chart.donhr.navy.mil/. When completing your resume in CHART, please keep in mind that your responses to questions on ELIGIBILITY, Hiring Program Categories, and the Additional Data Sheet, along with the information provided in your resume, will determine whether you are referred for a vacant position. Please ensure that you review each question carefully, and click on the question mark (where applicable) for more information. Select all hiring categories that apply to you, and all geographical locations for which you desire job consideration on the Additional Data Sheet.The Department of the Navy (DON) opens job opportunity announcements on a continuous basis. These "Open Continuous" announcements are advertised for all positions in specific series, grade levels and geographic locations throughout the Navy. Therefore, DON numbers these "Open Continuous" announcements as "DON" followed by the series: Example: DON0343 is the open continuous announcement for positions in the GS-0343 series; DON0301 is the open continuous announcement for positions in the GS-0301 series; and DON1101 is the open continuous announcement for positions in the GS-1101 series, regardless of the title of the actual position. For example, to locate the applicable open continuous announcement for Shipbuilding Specialist, GS-1101-9/11, go to announcement number DON1101. Open continuous announcements create an "Inventory Bank" of readily available high caliber applicants. Resumes are then considered as actual vacancies in the series covered by the announcement occur. DON uses this system because having resumes on hand versus individually announcing a job when a vacancy occurs, speeds up the recruitment process. This allows an applicant to submit a resume for a vacancy at anytime, regardless if a vacancy actually exists. Vacancies can occur at any time, therefore, it is recommended that you keep an active resume on file at all times, and submit your resume for any position(s) you are interested in as soon as possible.Please refer your questions to the DON Resume Intake and Employment information Center in San Diego, CA. Their office hours are Monday through Friday, 0600 to 1800 hours. The Preferred method of contact is use of the "Contact the Webmaster" link at: https://webmail.west.nmci.navy.mil/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://chart.donhr.navy.mil/

The next topic is an important one. The annual SWRMC Holiday Party will be held on 03 December 2010 starting at 1800 at the Town and Country Resort and Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego CA. There will be door prizes, a prize for the best table center piece, a DJ, and a photographer for formal pictures (for a nominal fee). There will be a gift for the most elegant couple. There will be baby-sitting available for those of you with little ones. Tables can be sponsored and we are working to get a lower room rate for those who want to spend the night at the Town and Country.Prices for the event are as follows:

-E-4 GS4 + below $15.00
-E-5 GS5 - GS-8 $25.00
-E-6 $30.00
-E-7 GS9 + above $35.00
-You may sponsor three guests. Guest prices will be according to rank. More than three guests- -$40.00 each.

Lastly, our final preps are underway for our “golf cart” event. Please mark (in pencil) your schedules for 15 November, as this is the tentative day for the event.


As always, thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

Jim Achenbach