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NAVSEA's Top Management Attention Program Solves Ship Maintenance Issues

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081003-03
Release Date: 10/3/2008 1:50:00 PM

From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

BILOXI, Miss. (NNS) -- Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) engineers explained a program for addressing the fleet's most critical maintenance problems Sept. 24 at the Marine Machinery Association annual meeting in Biloxi.

Doyle R. Kitchin, director of NAVSEA's Fleet Readiness Engineering Office, discussed the Navy's Top Management Attention (TMA) Program at the conference, themed "Reducing Shipbuilding Costs."

The program focuses on logistics, human performance, equipment and tools for solving ship maintenance and technical issues to improve fleet material readiness and operational availability," said Kitchin.

Established in 1996, TMA is managed by the U.S. Fleet Forces Command Fleet Maintenance Office in Norfolk, and administered by NAVSEA in Washington, D.C.

The TMA team addresses problems only when they can't be resolved at a lower level. Following the Fleet Material Readiness Improvement Process, the team identifies and prioritizes problems, then analyzes to determine the problem's root cause in order to identify the best solution, followed by implementing the solution and tracking results. Once the TMA team identifies a solution, action is taken by the appropriate organization responsible for implementation and tracking.

He also described the different TMA "umbrella" programs tasked with exploring, testing and implementing solutions and cited several success stories. Successes include TMA's Shipboard Energy Conservation Program, which calls for the installation of stern flaps, designed to reduce drag and fuel consumption. This initiative is expected to deliver annual cost avoidance of approximately $700,000 per ship each year for amphibious assault ships and dock landing ships.

Kitchin also discussed initiatives being tracked by the Navy's Reduction of Cumbersome Work Practices Task Force, including a coatings program which uses new highly durable, fast-drying, high-build paints. The new coatings last longer than previous paints and can be applied in one coat rather than the three coats needed for the other paints, resulting in substantial time and labor savings.

"In fleet maintenance terms, TMA is like the appellate court," explained Kitchin, "These are issues that directly impact our ability to perform mission essential tasks. They require the expertise, authority and coordination of those at the top to address them properly and quickly. In some cases, the solution involves altering or replacing a long-standing process. Only top Navy leaders can mandate that sort of change."

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.