Original Date: 07/25/2005
Revision Date: 09/12/2006

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems’s Executive Corrective Action Board establishes an accountability chain for lower level corrective action boards, allowing the company to be more proactive in resolving issues. Manufacturing metrics have been expanded, and process improvements have reduced the number of Department of Defense Contractor Management Agency audits.

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (NGES) recognized a lack of high-level, overall visibility across its program/product corrective action boards (CABs) and established an Executive CAB. The Executive CAB is comprised of personnel from NGES and the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Defense Contractor Management Agency (DCMA). Executive CAB meetings are held quarterly to review key performance, process, and program status for the NGES Baltimore, Annapolis, and Sykesville locations. The Executive CAB focuses on color-coded performance metrics; an overview of the program/product CABs; accountability for major program milestones; and feedback on internal product/process audits, ISO audits, and reports of DCMA’s assessment of NGES.

The Executive CAB is a level above the program and technology CABs, making it possible to see process problems on a larger scale. Supplier process problems are identified and resolved with the supplier to ensure that appropriate corrective and preventive actions are taken.

NGES’ Executive CAB has provided an escalation process for lower-level CABs, serving as an information exchange with the customer and creating a quality improvement process environment that demonstrates a self-governing NGES. The Executive CAB also provides visibility and accountability for tracking long-term milestones to completion.

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