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Original Date: 04/06/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Information : ISO 9002 Certification of the Turbine Engine Facility
The Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) developed a unique capability in its Turbine Engine Facility where the AGT1500 turbine that goes into the M1 Abrams tank is repaired. A highly skilled workforce inspects, repairs, reclaims, and overhauls the turbine engine as well as associated components in ANAD’s 52,000 square foot facility. The workforce is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, and it has also developed equipment that exists only at ANAD. Because of this excellent capability, ANAD chose this facility for certification to ISO 9002.
As with many military installations, ANAD is trying to reach new customers for the highly trained workforce and capabilities that have been developed over the years. ISO 9002 was viewed as a method of continuous improvement and a way of reaching new customers. It is an internationally recognized standard that ANAD realized would influence a potential overseas market.
During the planning that led to certification, ANAD found it was weak in certain elements that were required for ISO certification. ANAD developed a strategy to meet the ISO requirements. Personnel were sent to external training programs that addressed internal audit systems, lead assessor training, implementing quality systems, and designing and developing documentation. Internal training programs were developed that familiarized the workforce with ISO and identified supervisory responsibilities. An internal self-assessment system was established that could be used to gage progress and identify areas of improvement. Services of a consultant were obtained to perform an assessment in helping ANAD’s quest for ISO certification.
ANAD found that it needed to develop and improve in the areas of management responsibility; quality systems; contract review; documentation and data control; process control; inspection and testing; control of non-conforming product; corrective and preventive actions; handling; storage; packing preservation and delivery; control of quality records; internal quality audits; training; and statistical techniques. The effort required ANAD to change many ways of thinking and doing business, but the effort helped strengthen the workforce. A contract was then executed with a certified registrar, and on January 5, 1998, ANAD’s Turbine Engine Facility received certification to ISO 9002.
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