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

The Single Process Initiative is a partnership between Raytheon Missile Systems Company (RMSC) and the U.S. Government. The objective is to identify processes which, when redesigned, will provide added cost savings for the customer and contractor, without compromising product quality. The RMSC/government team addressed two issues: the elimination of Government Source Inspections (GSIs), and the elimination of government signatures on ammunition data cards.

The elimination of GSIs was accomplished in two segments. Based on RMSC’s process, the team conducted in- process verifications at the suppliers’ sites, and implemented source verification plans using a RMSC source inspector. This plan focuses on using a contractor source inspector to monitor a supplier’s processes during the build-up of a product, rather than inspecting the end item. In all cases, the team converted GSIs to Government Source Surveillances (GSSs). A GSS program was established at each supplier’s site, and local government representatives would visit to verify the contractor source inspector’s findings. In addition, new purchase orders were converted from GSI to GSS.

The second segment involved eliminating GSS, wherever possible, since this process was redundant to the contractor’s verification process. The RMSC/government team established low, medium, and high risk categories for parts, based on RMSC’s supplier performance data and on input from the Government Product Support teams. The GSS requirement for low risk parts was removed from purchase orders, and the delegation to government field representatives was either eliminated or altered. As a result, the government office at RMSC estimates an annual reduction of 5,000 work hours. In addition, RMSC developed a monthly report for the Government Product Support teams which highlights the quality performance of all sourced parts. Based on this report as well as their own informational sources, the Government Product Support teams can add or delete GSI delegations.

Ammunition data cards are required to accompany all explosive materials during their transport along public routes. In addition, government representatives must sign the data cards to verify the accuracy of the information. The RMSC/government team addressed the elimination of government signatures on ammunition data cards by gathering information on explosive components, including material composition and material lot traceability for safety purposes. In a move to reduce government oversight costs, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Ammunition Procurement issued a waiver which allowed government signatures to be replaced with the subcontractor’s (specifically the quality manager’s) signature. This waiver affects approximately 400 part numbers.

Through its partnership, the RMSC/government team has helped reduce or eliminate government oversight costs. These efforts decrease contractor costs, leverage existing contractor processes, and maintain the integrity of products.

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