A serious aim of the collaboration between NAVSUP WSS and Shipyard Provide Assist Unit in August 2022 was to standardize the individuals, processes and practices concerned with materials acquisition, like buying substitute elements for ships and submarines, on the Navy’s 4 public shipyards, in line with Lynn Kohl, NAVSUP WSS vice commander.
These efforts assist to resolve the challenges going through the Navy in terms of rising ship readiness and elevated upkeep prices as highlighted by a current GAO report.
Particular metrics and duties had been created to perform the aim with a deadline of December 2022. After evaluation, NAVSUP WSS management determined to assemble a staff to facilitate this aim. The staff was led by Capt. Pamela Theorgood, deputy commander for ships and submarines, NAVSUP WSS Mechanicsburg, who appointed seven steady course of enchancment black belts from the SMIO to affix the staff.
Black belts are journeyman stage steady course of enchancment (CPI) practitioners, who facilitate incremental modifications to enterprise processes to enhance effectivity and high quality in any respect ranges. To turn into a black belt workers should full 5 weeks of full-time coaching in addition to cross a complete ultimate examination. The NAVSUP WSS black belts that assisted with this mission had been: Jaleesa Daniels, Cassandre Luberus, Lorissa Luckenbill, Brian Mackalonis, Caleb Miller, Christian Nazario and Cynthia Smith.
“One among our main objectives was to extend communication throughout the shipyards,” stated Cassandre L. Luberus, a NAVSUP WSS Strategic Administration and Enchancment Workplace black belt. “And that was completed. We created a SharePoint web site that facilitated course of standardization throughout the shipyards. Moreover, we hosted weekly collaborative conferences with the Shipyards’ Provide Assist Units (Code 500s) subject material specialists and different stakeholders. These actions led to elevated information sharing and aligned processes.”
One other main initiative was to develop and standardize acquisition Normal Working Procedures (SOPs) throughout the shipyards. Whereas every shipyard has some specialties, a lot of them carried out the identical or very related features, however in barely alternative ways, defined Luberus. Creating a standardized follow helped to cut back inefficiencies of their strategies.
“After we developed the SOPs, it turned clear that they had been one thing that wanted to be developed additional. Whereas it’s nonetheless in improvement, these SOPs can be made into an official publication,” she stated.
Whereas this mission is winding down for the SMIO staff, different tasks are ongoing. Luberus has greater than 9 tasks touching all the things from command technique to acquisition and says that breadth of scope is frequent amongst the black belts. Broad information and expertise make the SMIO staff superb to directorates, supervisors, and workers to search out options to issues they face in day-to-day work.
“I tremendously loved being part of this mission, and it was one thing that offered a problem. I used to be grateful that when referred to as upon, we answered! And I’d do it time and again,” she stated.
Management is pleased with the staff’s onerous work on standardization for Shipyard Provide Assist Unit’s materials acquisition.
“I used to be excited to guide this staff to perform these necessary objectives, they did an impressive job,” stated Theorgood. “This mission helped to cut back delays throughout shipyard upkeep which instantly contributes to Naval readiness.”
The Navy’s 4 public shipyards are Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine; Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington; and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Hawaii. The Provide Assist Unit, additionally referred to as the Code 500s, is the group of groups concerned in every step of the method making certain materials is offered to assist shipyard operations.
NAVSUP WSS is one in every of 11 instructions below Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, NAVSUP employs a various, worldwide workforce of greater than 22,500 army and civilian personnel. NAVSUP and the Navy Provide Corps conduct and allow provide chain, acquisition, operational logistics and Sailor and household care actions with our mission companions to generate readiness and maintain naval forces worldwide to forestall and decisively win wars. Study extra at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.fb.com/navsupwss, and www.twitter.com/NAVSUP
