Original Date: 07/10/2000
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Started in 1995, the Cumbersome Work Practices Working Panel has grown to 263 Working Teams, each addressing a unique set of difficult-to-solve work practices within the Navy. Using inspection data from the Product Data Reporting and Evaluation Program, the Working Teams make informed decisions concerning the reduction of mandatory inspections by the Navy and, at the same time, maintaining or increasing inspection requirements on poor performing military specifications and stock numbers.

The Cumbersome Work Practices Working Panel (CWPWP) initiative is chaired by NAVSEA 05N and relies on the Product Data Reporting and Evaluation Program (PDREP) database to analyze and trend military specification and stock number quality performance. Using inspection data from the PDREP, the CWPWP makes informed decisions concerning the reduction of mandatory inspections by the Navy and, at the same time, maintains or increases inspection requirements on poor performing military specifications and stock numbers.

Started in 1995, the overall program has grown to 263 Working Teams, each addressing a unique set of difficult-to- solve work practices within the Navy. The Working Teams draw information from resources (e.g., Navy specialist, subject matter experts, reports, databases) that best match the work practices being studied. Presently, the Naval Sea Logistics Center (NSLC), Detachment Portsmouth participates on three Working Teams which employ their expertise as well as the PDREP data to make effective process changes.

One Working Team involving NSLC, Detachment Portsmouth was instrumental in improving the work processes for delivering quality material to the Fleet. The task involved using past performance PDREP data to make effective process changes. The Working Team analyzed Material Inspection Records and Product Quality Deficiency Reports (PQDRs) submitted by the shipyards; targeted areas for improvement; and identified deficient material. Additionally, NSLC, Detachment Portsmouth generated management reports that provided objective evidence of defect rates. The research pointed toward Controlled Industrial Material (CIM) items. As a result, the Working Team improved CIM bulk metal specifications and fastener specifications. Over a five-year period, the number of applicable CIM specifications decreased from 79 to seven. In turn, the Navy realized cost savings in terms of turn-in items and specific corrective actions for improving product performance at all naval installations.

The PDREP database proved to be a valuable tool in producing reliable data for true problem identification and analysis. Other completed actions involving this program included marking problems with ASTM pipe; analysis of MIL-S-1222 material fasteners; identification of chemical and dimensional defect problems with MIL-F-1183 for bronze fittings; and (prior to 1990) disposal of material due to high lead content.

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