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 ALRE TCP
can be found in NAEC Miscellaneous Report 51/OR
732, the ALRE Tool Control Manual.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Q13.
List benefits of the tool control program?
QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe the
quality
assurance
branch
organization.
Describe
the
quality
assurance
branch
responsibilities. Describe quality assurance
audits.
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.
The achievement of QA depends on prevention,
knowledge, and special skills as they are described.
Prevention is the power to regulate events rather
than being regulated by them. This extends to
the safety of personnel, the maintenance of
equipment, the training of personnel, and all
aspects of the total maintenance effort.
Knowledge is derived from factual information.
Knowledge is acquired through data collection
and analysis as a means of identifying, tracking,
and preventing defects.
Special skills are those skills possessed by the
personnel trained in the technique of data
analysis and supervision of the QA program.
The QA program provides an efficient method of
gathering and maintaining information on the quality,
characteristics of repair parts, maintenance procedures,
training, and on the source and nature of defects and
their impact. The QA program permits maintenance
and operational decisions to be made based on facts
rather
than
intuition
or
memory,
by
providing
comparative data that is useful long after the details of a
particular event has been forgotten.
A properly functioning QA program points out
problem areas to maintenance managers so that
appropriate action can be taken to accomplish the
following:
Improve the quality, uniformity, and reliability
of the total maintenance effort
Improve the work environment and the tools and
equipment
used
in
the
performance
of
maintenance
Eliminate unnecessary man-hour and dollar
expenses
Improve the training, work habits, and pro-
cedures of maintenance personnel
Increase the accuracy and value of reports and
correspondence originated by the division
Distribute required technical information more
effectively
Establish realistic material and equipment
requirements in support of the maintenance
effort
Support safety and FOD prevention and report-
ing programs
QUALITY ASSURANCE BRANCH
ORGANIZATION
The QA branch is comprised of a small group of
skilled personnel who are permanently assigned to the
branch. The personnel assigned to the QA branch are
known as quality assurance inspectors (QAIs). They are
responsible for conducting QAI-level inspections and
the management and monitoring of QA programs in the
division. Additionally, personnel assigned to other
branches and work centers will be designated to
perform certain inspection functions NOT requiring
QAI-level involvement. These personnel are collateral
duty inspectors (CDIs), who are assigned to inspect
specific steps of a maintenance procedure performed by
their respective work center. They are responsible to the
QA branch supervisor while performing QA functions.
CDIs are NOT permitted to inspect their own work
under any circumstance.
It may also be necessary to augment the QA branch
with collateral duty quality assurance inspectors
(CDQAIs) to temporarily alleviate given skill or
manpower shortages. CDQAIs must meet the same
criteria as QAIs, including designation in writing by the
commanding officer, and will have the same authority
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