Original Date: 10/20/1997
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

On preliminary review, Northrop Grumman’s Corrective Action program is similar to corrective action processes at other industrial facilities. This program consists of four distinct categories. The first involves performing root cause analysis or determining how the defect/problem presented itself. Secondly, a corrective action plan is developed to resolve the immediate situation. Next, the approved corrective action plan is implemented with emphasis placed on process improvement. Finally, a follow-up investigation is performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the corrective action.

However, Northrop Grumman’s Corrective Action program also provides coverage in various areas in addition to assembly line defects. This program covers customer service and the internal operations of the facility as well as program improvements, IPT improvements, and ISO 9000 audit findings. The latter is possibly the most significant characteristic of the Corrective Action program because the program, itself, is ISO 9000 approved. This Corrective Action program is also more process-oriented compared to other quality-oriented programs. Quality-oriented programs usually focus only on resolving the problem, whereas this program allows IPTs to interject input into the corrective actions which may improve the product, process, and/or schedule.

The next-generation Corrective Action program involves the introduction of a database acquisition system for tracking defects by category. This information provides beneficial cost-reduction analysis and process improvements over the life of the program, as well as significant insight on how well its program is maturing.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.