Original Date: 09/14/1998
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Raytheon Missile Systems Company (RMSC) and the local DCMC Program Quality representatives for the AMRAAM program began exploring the idea of Contractor Self-Governance. This approach would shift many of the oversight duties of the local DCMC to RMSC for the AMRAAM program. In April 1996, the AMRAAM Program Executive Officer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base nominated the approach. As a result, a one-year experiment was initiated in July 1996 to test the feasibility of Contractor Self-Governance.

The DCMC Quality and RMSC AMRAAM Quality organizations jointly conducted the Contractor Self-Governance experiment. A plan with detailed procedures was used to identify which areas of the AMRAAM program would be assumed by the contractor. These experimental areas were restricted to AMRAAM-dedicated functions. Any area with a common tie to another program was excluded from the experiment. Metrics were set up to measure these areas, and DCMC provided RMSC with training on quality procedures. DCMC also performed monthly audits on the experiment’s progress.

After one year, the Contractor Self-Governance experiment indicated no significant audit issues and no degradation in the quality of the AMRAAM program. The experiment also received positive feedback from internal and external customers. Encouraged by the results, the groups adopted a continuation plan which discontinued the monthly reporting and auditing requirements of the initial experiment.

Although Contractor Self-Governance basically had no effect on RMSC’s process on the AMRAAM program, this approach did enhance the company’s awareness of its responsibility for quality. The experiment also enabled DCMC to redirect its workforce to other projects.

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