defects, and their impact on the current operation. It permits decisions to be based on facts rather than intuition or memory. It provides comparative data that will be useful long after the details of the particular times or events have been forgotten. QA requires both authority and assumption of responsibility for action. A properly functioning QA points out problem areas to maintenance managers so they can act to accomplish the following: Improve the quality, uniformity, and reliability of the total maintenance effort. Improve the work environment, tools, and equipment used in the performance of maintenance. Eliminate unnecessary man-hour and dollar expenditures. Improve the training, work habits, and procedures of maintenance personnel. Increase the quality and value of reports and correspondence originated by the maintenance activity. Distribute technical information more effectively. Establish realistic material and equipment requirements in support of the maintenance effort. Support the Naval Aviation Maintenance Discrepancy Reporting Program. Support the Foreign Object Damage (FOD) Prevention and Reporting Program. QA serves both management and production equally. Management is served when QA monitors the complete maintenance effort of the department and furnishes the factual feedback of discrepancies and deficiencies. In addition, it acts to improve the quality, reliability, and safety of maintenance. Production is served by having the benefit of collateral duty inspectors who are formally trained in inspection procedures; it is also served by receiving technical assistance in resolving production problems. The introduction of QA to the maintenance function does not relieve production personnel of the basic responsibility for quality work; instead, that responsibility is increased by adding accountability. This accountability is the essence of QA. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR QUALITY OF MAINTENANCE The commanding officer is responsible for the inspection and quality of material within a command and the full cooperation of all hands to meet this responsibility. The responsibility for establishing a successful program to attain high standards of quality workmanship cannot be discharged by merely creating a QA division within a maintenance organization. To operate effectively, this division requires the full support of everyone in the organization. It is not the instruments, instructions, and other facilities for inspection that determine the success or failure in achieving high standards of quality; it is the frame of mind of all personnel. Quality maintenance is the objective. The supervisor must know that high quality work is vital to the effective operation of any maintenance organization. To achieve this high quality work, each person must know not only a set of specification limits, but also the purpose for those limits. The person with the most direct concern for quality workmanship is the production supervisor. This concern stems from the supervisor’s responsibility for the proper professional performance of assigned personnel. A production supervisor is responsible for the assignment of a collateral duty inspector (CDI) at the time work is assigned. This procedure allows the inspector to conduct the progressive inspection required so the inspector is not then confronted with a job already completed, functionally tested, and buttoned up. The completion of production work is not a function of the QA division. Production personnel in the added role of inspector cannot certify inspection of their own work. Direct liaison between the QA division and production divisions is a necessity and must be energetically pursued. Although the QA officer is responsible to the aircraft maintenance officer (AMO) for the overall quality of maintenance within the department, division officers and work center supervisors are responsible for ensuring that required inspections are conducted and that high quality workmanship is attained. Q9. What is the purpose of the quality assurance division? Q10.  The prevention of the occurence of defects relies on what principle? 6-7