Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) Engineering Department has a desk, and not just any desk—The Engineering Service Desk (ESD). The ESD consists of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): Project Support Engineers (PSEs), Diesel Engine Inspectors, Structural Engineers, Shafting Engineers, and Underwater Hull Engineers who are at the forefront of the success of the Chief of Naval Operations Availability (CNO).
Implemented over a decade ago and employed as a Pilot Program on ships such as USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) and USS Wasp (LHD 1), the ESD became a key component to successfully completing these Ship Restricted Availabilities (SRA).
“When a ship goes through an avail, it is given it’s very own PSE who has a team of experts at the ready,” said Ryan Pierron, MARMC Integrated Test Engineer at Marine Hydraulic International Inc. “SMEs are ready to answer any questions that, if left unanswered, may cause delays subsequently missing the goal of on-time delivery (OTD).”
Pierron, whose role is integral part of the ESD, sees enormous benefits of the ESD during Chief of CNOs.
“Avail teams have SMEs at the ready to answer simple or complex engineering questions or assist the avail team with making sense of equipment specifications,” said Pierron. “On any given week I receive up to three Engineering Service Requests (ESRs). Having the SMEs in place alongside the PSE allows for a quicker turn-around, providing time critical answers to the project team. That is the beauty of the ESD.”
“The purpose of the ESD is to emphasize integration,” said MARMC Integrated Test Engineer Richard Makowski.
Makowski, another key player in the ESD, provides key technical oversight and risk assessments for MARMC’s Chief Engineer (CHENG), Program Managers, and other leadership during ship certification at each Key Event. Makowski additionally provides data that would inform readiness for certification and work item completion.
“Having the right people in the right place at the right time is key. ITEs not only assist in certification events but also provide robust weekly and bi-weekly updates to MARMC’s CHENG, Engineering Department, and Waterfront Operations leadership on areas of concern. ITEs technical contribution is a true gem as it mitigates issues well in advance, avoiding delays. We are essentially the eyes and ears to the CHENG.”
Makowski currently works two avails, an SRA and an Extended Ships Restricted Availability. He has appraised over 22,000 Condition Found Reports on one avail and 20,000 on the other avail. Requests for Contract Changes are also viewed by Makowski as he ensures objective quality evidence is available before any higher-level leadership decision.
As a crucial member of the ESD, Makowski and other experts also face the difficult challenge of growth work. Growth work is an additional strain on SMEs because growth work is unplanned work on equipment or systems that in most cases, is unforeseen. However, seasoned SMEs like Makowski search out the history of the component in question, which will paint the best picture of current conditions and how to approach efforts to repair or replace, confidentially within the scope of the overall avail.
The vastness of responsibility during an avail could not rest solely on one person. It requires the technical expertise of SMEs that support the PSE.
“Having the ESD proves to be the right tool for success with engineers and technicians to rely on,” added Makowski. “The ESD is robust, effective, and impactful.”
MARMC, a field activity of NAVSEA, provides surface ship maintenance, management and oversight of private sector maintenance and fleet technical assistance to ships in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and provides support to the fifth and sixth Fleet Areas of Responsibility. They are also responsible for the floating dry-dock Dynamic (AFDL-6).
| Date Taken: | 10.06.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 10.06.2022 09:46 |
| Story ID: | 430835 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 94 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Key Technical Resource: The Subject Matter Expert MARMC Engineering Service Desk, by Oscar Pope, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
