Original Date: 04/26/2004
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

United Defense, L.P. Armament Systems Division Aberdeen implemented a computerized system to manage its quality assurance requirements in the manufacturing environment. The process, common throughout the Armament Systems Divisions, uses a commercially available software tool. The integrated capabilities of the system have greatly contributed to communicating and controlling manufacturing quality issues.

In 1999, United Defense, L.P. Armament Systems Division (UDLP ASD) Aberdeen implemented a computerized, commercially available Quality Management System, AutoQuality, a suite of integrated applications to improve data collection, meet the facility’s quality assurance requirements in the manufacturing environment, and improve quality management within the Aberdeen facility and throughout the ASDs. Primary applications have included features such as receiving inspection, supplier rating, nonconformance, in-process inspection and test, gage and tool, and statistical process control. Reported principal features and benefits include consistent integration in prevention, detection, correction, and management roles for product manufacturing. Since the data structure is available and common throughout the ASDs, communications have improved, both within and among the separate facilities, while eliminating the need for duplication of data for the multiple, integrated quality assurance roles.

Specific benefits achieved include rapid retrieval of historical information, flexibility in searching and reporting quality data, comprehensive and timely supplier quality communications, ability to attach relevant documentation, ability to easily modify requirements, auto-notification by e-mail of required quality actions, calculation and generation of quality metrics, and continuous improvement of workforce and supplier quality.

While overall manufacturing and product quality have steadily improved since the introduction of the Quality Management System, UDLP ASD Aberdeen continues to enhance its use and proficiency with this tool. Consistent communication has enabled greater efficiency in both prevention and correction efforts as seen between facilities and among different products. The readily available quality data has resulted in quicker and more comprehensive problem recognition while also contributing to significantly more expeditious resolutions.

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