Streamlining Shipboard System Testing
When the Navy takes ownership of a new ship, the crew assumes operation and maintenance of a warship that is inherently complex. Preparing the crew is the responsibility of the shipbuilder and the various In Service Engineering Agents (ISEAs) of NAVSEA and its support organizations. Ultimately, it is the ship’s captain and his crew who must develop the knowledge and skills to sail into harm’s way.
CHALLENGE:
As part of the Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trial (CSSQT), the Combat Support Systems Onboard Testing (CSSOT) program focuses on ensuring Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) systems are ready, and more importantly, that the ship’s crew is familiarized.
SOLUTION:
During Destroyer Class CCSOTs, McKean engineers work with the ISEAs to assess equipment operation and share their extensive HM&E experience with the crew. We complete onboard evaluation of equipment against documented maintenance procedures, and corrective actions are either taken immediately or documented for further action using a Test Observation Report (TOR) Database.
SUCCESS:
McKean’s database analysts have also played a critical part in this effort. They have suggested and implemented optimization improvements to the TOR database, and have developed forms that make the input process easier for onboard engineers. Based on their efforts, database input time has been reduced, functionality has increased and new reporting features have been added that help in the corrective action discussions.