Quality Assessment Department

The Quality Assessment Department serves as the independent assessment agent to assure the quality of weapons, combat systems, and equipments. The department provides life-cycle quality and mission assurance support to Department of Defense (DoD) Agencies, Systems Commands, Program Executive Offices, and Program Managers. Quality and technical requirements and guidance for application to development, production, and maintenance of Defense systems are developed by the department. Once requirements are established the department conducts assessments of and reports on the performance of Defense contractors and field/Fleet activities quality and technical systems. Also, the department provides technical assistance to DoD offices, contractors, and field/Fleet activities in the interpretation and implementation of quality requirements and the resolution of quality issues. The department also manages and operates centralized systems for Fleet failures, defective products, and parts obsolesces programs.

Core Functions

Independent Assessments

• Technical Program Management Evaluations
• Quality and Mission Assurance Evaluations
• Product Oriented Surveys
• Software Process Evaluations
• Production Readiness Reviews
• Independent Logistics Assessments
• Manufacturing Process Technical Assists
• Best Manufacturing Practices Surveys
• Risk Assessments

Life Cycle Quality Engineering and Mission Assurance Support

• Develop, Maintain, and Assess Program Policies, Plans, Requirements, and Guidelines
• Technical, Mission Assurance, Quality, and Safety Support
• Risk Management Support
• Reliability and Reliability Modeling
• Technical Process Training and Support

Trouble and Failure Report (TFR) System Manager for TRIDENT and SSGN

• Develop and Provide TFR Program Management Systems
• Develop Program Management Policies and Instructions
• Manage TFR Program
• Data Collection, Retention, and Distribution
• Provide Timely and Reliable Responses to Fleet TFRs

Management of Information Systems

• Sunset Supply Base Manager

  • Provides Systems Engineering approach to extend COTS supportability and availability,
    • Mitigate Obsolescence Issues Presented by COTS
    • Support Options of System Upgrades or Development Initiatives
    • Provide Cost Savings over the Product Life-Cycle and Improve Schedule Flexibility
    • Forecast Budget Requirements in Support of the Programs, War-fighter or Consumer
    • Leverage Navy and Commercial Supportability Assets and Provide Networked Solutions

• Government Industry Data Exchange Program
  

  Government Wide System for Exchanging Information on Non-Conforming Products

  DOD Designated Database for Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortage Notices

  WEB Access to Technical Reports and Documents in the following areas of interest:

  Engineering Information

  Failure Experience Information

  Metrology Information

  Product Information

  Reliability and Maintainability Information

  Urgent Data Requests

Customers

Department of Energy (DOE)
Department of Labor (DOL)
Department of Commerce (DOC)
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
US Postal Service
National Security Agency
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Canadian Department of National Defence
US Army
US Air Force
Missile Defense Agency
Assistant Secretary of the Navy – Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN(RDA))
Strategic Systems Programs
NAVSEA
NAVAIR
SPAWAR
Office of Naval Research (Best Manufacturing Practices)
AEGIS
Virginia Class Submarines
Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)
Surface Ship Undersea Warfare
Ships Self Defense System (SSDS)
Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)