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Original Date: 06/05/2006
Revision Date: / /
Information : Implementation of Program Data Tracker
The Rockwell Collins Cedar Rapids facility has implemented Program Data Tracker, a Web-based system used to effectively communicate, track, and resolve design issues and document employee improvement suggestions. Program Data Tracker also serves as a database of historical issues and solutions where others can see what actions have been taken to resolve similar problems, ensuring company knowledge and past experience is retained.
The Rockwell Collins Cedar Rapids facility recently implemented the Program Data Tracker (PDT), a Web-based system designed to keep track of design problems and issues as they arise and to document employee improvement suggestions. The company has had no documentation process in place to capture design issues or employee suggestions in the preproduction build phase. As issues arose during the factory build and test effort, a production support person was contacted to evaluate the situation, resolve it, or contact an expert to help find a solution. The issue was not physically logged. If it was an idea for the next design cycle, a mental note was taken, which may or may not have been remembered for incorporation into the redesign.
Under the new system, new issues are immediately recorded in PDT. The shop floor employee can either direct input the issue into PDT or complete a data sheet that is then entered by an administrative assistant. The appropriate engineer to address the issue is identified, and the PDT system sends an e-mail alert notification to the originating employee of the action. PDT also sends weekly e-mail reminders when an action becomes overdue.
PDT also serves as a database of historical problems and solutions and records information that includes:
Action item identification number
The date an action was created
Name of originating party
Who it was assigned to
Due date
Priority (i.e., high, medium, low)
Status
Description of the problem
A notes section
Communication between the creator of the action and the actionee regarding what steps have been taken to resolve an issue also become part of the record. Others can search the database to see what steps have been taken to resolve similar issues they may be experiencing. PDT also tracks the length of time it takes to resolve issues.
As a result of implementing the new PDT process, the Cedar Rapids facility projects a 10% savings in overall labor. The PDT system will ultimately benefit the quality and cost of the hardware by allowing a greater opportunity to incorporate ideas from the factory into redesign cycles, making the hardware easier to build and test. PDT helps ensure actions are not forgotten but are documented, tracked, and closed. Its use as a historical database keeps knowledge and experience within the company.
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