ALCOAST 255/08
COMDTNOTE 5240
SUBJ: 2008 INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE INNOVATION AWARD
A. INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE INNOVATION AWARD, COMDTINST 5240.6
1. THE INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE INNOVATION AWARD ENCOURAGES DEPOT
LEVEL MAINTENANCE UNITS TO IMPROVE PROCESSES AND DELIVER EFFICIENT
SERVICES TO OPERATIONAL CUSTOMERS BASED ON THE COMMANDANTS
PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE CRITERIA.
2. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE AND CONGRATULATE THE 2008 INDUSTRIAL
INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS:
 A. PROCESS IMPROVEMENT CATEGORY: WINNER. NESU CLEVELAND: SAFE BOAT
FOAM REMOVAL.  NESU CLEVELAND WAS REPEATEDLY FACED WITH SAFETY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHEN CONDUCTING SAFE BOAT FUEL TANK REPAIRS.
SAFE BOATS ARE COMMONLY PLAGUED WITH FUEL TANK LEAKS.  THROUGH
INGENIOUS SYSTEMATIC ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS, NESU CLEVELAND DEVELOPED
A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE IN-HOUSE SOLUTION FOR IMPROVING THE OVERALL
PROCESS FOR SAFE BOAT HULL REPAIRS AND SAFETY CERTIFICATION.  THIS
EFFORT RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN SCHEDULED WORKDAYS
AND REPAIR COSTS (ESTIMATED TO BE 86 PERCENT AND 65 PERCENT
RESPECTIVELY). THIS PROCESS IS EASILY REPRODUCIBLE BY ANY UNIT AND
IS PROVEN TO BE A PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE TO THE COMMERCIAL REPAIR
OPTION.
 B. IN THE INDIVIDUAL/TEAM CATEGORY: WINNER. ISC KETCHIKAN: CGC
LONG ISLAND DRYDOCK PROJECT.  THE ISC KETCHIKAN INDUSTRIAL WORK
FORCE WAS TASKED TO ASSESS A SEVERELY DAMAGED PATROL BOAT AND
DEVELOP AND EXECUTE A PLAN TO RESTORE IT TO ORIGINAL
SPECIFICATIONS. THROUGH INNOVATIVE MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES THAT
INCLUDED PIANO WIRE AND ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING FOR MATERIAL
EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION, THE INDUSTRIAL WORK FORCE, ALONGSIDE ELC
AND MLCP(V), WAS ABLE TO ACCURATELY CALCULATE HULL FLUCTUATIONS AND
MAINTAIN SHAFT ALIGNMENT WHILE REPLACING OVER 500 SQ FT OF SHIP
HULL PLATING, DECKING AND BEARINGS.  SUPERB TEAM COLLABORATION
BETWEEN ISC KETCHIKAN, ELC AND MLCP(V) RESULTED IN RETURNING A
VITAL COAST GUARD ASSET TO FULL OPERATIONAL STATUS.  REPAIRS WERE
COMPLETED ONE MONTH AHEAD OF SCHEDULE WITH A TOTAL COST SAVINGS OF
OVER 800K AS COMPARED TO COMMERCIAL ESTIMATES.
 C. RUNNERS UP: THE FOLLOWING UNITS SUBMITTED NOTEWORTHY PACKAGES.
  (1) ISC PORTSMOUTH: RIGID HULL INFLATABLE BOAT REFURBISHING
PROCESS.
  (2) LEGACY SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT UNIT: CREWLESS CUTTER DEPOT LEVEL
MAINTENANCE.
  (3) ISC ST LOUIS: CASREP TRACKING SYSTEM.
3. WINNING NOMINATIONS WILL RECEIVE 1,000 DOLLARS FOR USE IN
DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE MAINTENANCE PROCESSES AT THE UNIT. I COMMEND
ALL OF THE UNITS WHO SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION AND
ENCOURAGE MAINTENANCE STAFFS TO CONTINUALLY ASSESS AND IMPROVE WORK
PROCESSES AND TO SHARE THEIR SUCCESSES WITH OTHERS.
4. THE AWARD SUBMISSIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND MAY BE REVIEWED BY
VISITING COMDT (CG-441) ON CG CENTRAL.
5. RELEASED BY MR. JEFFERY ORNER, ACTING ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR
ENGINEERING AND LOGISTICS (CG-4), SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.