ABEs, EMs (catapult/arresting gear electricians), and ICS (visual landing aids interior communications electricians), whose training and background provide the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain ALRE equipment in a fully operational and safe status. The primary role of the maintenance support (MS) branch is to assist cognizant operating work centers by providing technical expertise in performing maintenance or repairs on certain critical equipment. These designated critical equipments include systems, components, assemblies, subassemblies, and parts that the failure or improper operation of can result in aircraft loss, equipment loss, or personnel injury. (A listing of this critical equipment is found in chapter II-5 of OPNAVINST 4790.15.) Since MS personnel are assigned to assist in maintenance performed by an operating work center, the cognizant work center supervisor, who has the responsibility for the operation and upkeep of the equipment, also retains the overall responsibility for maintenance performed on the critical equipment previously mentioned. For this reason, the cognizant work center must document the maintenance on the 3-part MAF, including all maintenance support man-hours. In addition to this documentation, the MS supervisor will independently track all man-hours expended by maintenance support personnel on the MAF card placed in the maintenance support VIDS board. Following completion of the maintenance action, the MS supervisor transcribes the number of man-hours expended on a particular job and other pertinent information onto a maintenance summary sheet, which will be retained for 2 years for local use in manpower accounting. The information on the summary sheet will include, as a minimum, the following: JCN Equipment/system name Description of discrepancy Description of corrective action TOOL CONTROL PROGRAM (TCP) The maintenance support supervisor is also responsible for the management of the division’s tool control program (TCP), under the direction of the maintenance officer. The TCP was established to reduce the potential of tool-related foreign object damage (FOD) mishaps and to reduce the cost of tool replacement. This program allows you to rapidly account for all tools before, during, and after completing a maintenance task. The TCP is based on the instant inventory concept through the use of a family of specialized tool containers. All tools have individual silhouetted locations to highlight a missing tool. An inventory list is also included in each container. On containers or tool pouches that cannot be silhouetted, an inventory list is attached, providing a means for the tool room operator and the maintenance man to inventory tools upon issue from and return to the tool room. This inventory system allows you to quickly determine that all tools have been issued to perform a specific maintenance task and all have been returned to the tool room upon completion of the maintenance. Additional benefits of the TCP are the following: Reduced initial outfitting and tool replacement costs Reduced tool pilferage Reduced man-hours required to complete each maintenance task Assurance that the proper tools are available to perform specific maintenance tasks Detailed information concerning the ALRETCP can be found in NAEC Miscellaneous Report 51/OR 732, the ALRE Tool Control Manual. QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA) QA is the planned and systematic pattern of actions necessary to prevent defects from occurring from the start of a maintenance operation to its finish. QA is the responsibility of all personnel involved in the operation, upkeep, and maintenance of ALRE. Total number of man-hours expended 6-13