Norfolk Naval Shipyard Conducting Three Pilots to Digitally Transform Public Shipyards
Story By NNSY Public Affairs
Photos by Danny Deangelis, NNSY Photographer
Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) is conducting three digital transformation pilots to improve material tracking, skill management and work packages. Conducted in partnership with Navy’s Chief Digital Transformation Office (CDTO), Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP), Program Management Office (PMO-555), NAVSEA 03 (Cyber Engineering and Digital Transformation), and 04 (Logistics, Maintenance & Industrial Operations), these pilots improve component inventory during availabilities and knowledge sharing in planning and executing jobs. This in turn supports the overall goal for the four public shipyards to be on a Common Operating System in improving work efficiency.
“Digital Transformation is vitally important to move us from the shipyard of the past to the shipyard of tomorrow,” said Amanda Gulledge, NNSY Chief Transformation Officer. “This effort is focused on the mechanic at the center and an end user experience that removes manual processes with automation utilizing digital tools to work for us.”
Material tracking was piloted on USS JOHN WARNER (SSN 785), NNSY’s first Virginia-class Extended Dry-docking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA) which began in January 2023. Using radio frequency identification (RFID)-embedded material control tags, components removed from the boat were tagged on the pier for storage. Using a handheld unit dubbed a “sniffer,” parts can be easily located via a series of beeps on the material tracking system accessible on mobile devices. During this pilot, previous material control tags were improved using weatherproof labeling and reducing the amount of information necessary on each tag. This pilot has saved time not only in locating components, but also producing tags. This effort is foundational to PMO 555’s deployment of the Naval Autonomous Data Collection System (NADACS) to the four shipyards. NADACS is a Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) developed asset visibility management system planned for deployment to the four naval shipyards.
The skills management pilot assembles information across multiple systems into one interface. This provides faster updates of up to 90 percent with digital updating of crew boards, which sequence significant jobs on an availability, track ownership and bring visibility to any issues preventing timely accomplishment. This pilot replaces manual notetaking and job status updates on white boards, with digital crew boards allowing more interactive meetings and morning team briefs. This pilot is instrumental in meeting the goal of creating a digital hub, consolidating multiple applications into a single user interface, saving shop supervisors valuable time in daily planning.
The electronic work packages pilot has converted more than 12,000 analog historic work packages into digital text, accessible on a Flank Speed application to enhance corporate knowledge sharing and identification of any potential issues on a job. An example would be NNSY accessing Task Group Instructions (TGIs) for previous Virginia-class work performed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard or Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. With a searchable interface, users can now view digital work packages and identify deficiencies within a couple minutes.
NNSY’s Code 109 and Code 530 have provided valuable assistance to NNSY’s Chief Transformation Office (100TO) on these pilots. The Information Technology and Cybersecurity Department (Code 109) has run cables and installed equipment, as well as ensuring compliance with information assurance policies. NNSY’s Material Readiness Team (Code 530) members have served as subject matter experts on matters related to material tracking.
NAVSEA entities, along with the other public shipyards and multiple partners have been actively involved in this effort, including Chief Digital Transformation Officer for the Vice Chief of Naval Operations (CDTO) and PMO 555.
Mark Edelson, Program Executive Officer for Industrial Infrastructure (PEO II), recently attended a demonstration of the pilots at the shipyard. “The next phase will be identifying how to effectively scale and incorporate into processes not just across NNSY, but all four public shipyards,” said Edelson.
“Our digital transformation pilots are an exciting opportunity to corporately improve our efficiency and effectiveness, by providing enhanced tracking of material, ensuring problem resolution and driving work execution,” said Shipyard Commander Captain Jip Mosman. “I appreciate everyone’s continued efforts in this significant undertaking and look forward to leveraging our learning and implementing across our enterprise.”
Date Taken: | 10.01.2023 |
Date Posted: | 10.16.2023 13:17 |
Story ID: | 455862 |
Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, US |
Web Views: | 1,061 |
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