While the material maintenance management (3M) team verifies the quality of completed maintenance using maintenance requirement cards (MRC), quality assurance (QA) turns to more in-depth technical manuals to thoroughly ensure the ship is maintained in a safe and operational condition.

The team audits QA records and analyzes documentation from surveillances in their effort to train the crew and equip them with the knowledge they need to complete their maintenance, as well as maintain their controlled materials and work packages correctly.

Made up of five Sailors, the team includes a QA officer, assistant QA officer, leading petty officer, audit and surveillance coordinator, and a training petty officer.

“Ike’s QA team has great leadership,” said Machinist Mate 2nd Class Daniel Castaneda, Ike’s audit and surveillance coordinator. “Everyone on our team does an exceptional job and we all work well together. I have a lot of respect for my teammates both up and down the chain of command.”

The QA team focuses on high-value work like work authorization forms (WAF) and packages where they say it’s a lot easier to make mistakes. They continually attempt to push the 12 divisions they work with to keep improving.

Surveillances are similar to a spot check, but rather than focusing on qualification and basic knowledge, the focus is on paperwork and joint fleet maintenance manual (JFMM) guidelines. 

Control materials are one of many technical aspects inspected during surveillances and must be stowed properly with the required paperwork. They are used in high-risk equipment and that can cause a casualty if even a small detail is out of place.

“Work packages, which include authorization forms and paperwork required to trace control materials, are important to prevent casualties like the one on board USS Iwo Jima (LPH 2) in 1990, When a major steam leak occurred in the fire room resulting in the deaths of ten watch standers,” said Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class Timothy McCarthy, Ike’s assistant quality assurance officer.

The QA team is responsible for tracking and auditing work packages, departure from specifications (DFS), QA forms and surveillance documentation.

Departure from specification (DFS) documents parts of the ship that are no longer in accordance with the ship’s original drawings. These files are verified and sent to Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic (CNAL) before each underway to be approved. If they are not approved those discrepancies must be fixed before departing.

“The QA team has received some direction in closing out our jobs properly and we’re paying closer attention to that now,” said McCarthy. “Otherwise, most of the jobs have gone well so far. It’s very tiring for us, but overall Sailors are doing well with surveillances and division officers are doing likewise with operation tempo trainings.”

There are constant opportunities for training so Sailors can improve their knowledge base, whether they are new to the ship or getting qualified.

The QA team uses regular training to make sure control material petty officers are maintaining their control material in accordance with JFMM.

“I do my best to attend every training opportunity the QA team offers,” said Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Lashavya Barber, QA team’s point of contact for her division. “I am confident in training junior Sailors and I know the correct steps to take when something seems wrong.”

There have been times when Barber was in a situation which involved questions and teamwork and she referred to the QA team for advice and as part of her chain of command.

“The ship’s self-assessment as a whole has shown a drastic improvement in the quality of surveillances that we’ve been getting back,” said Castaneda. “All the divisions adhere to every single standard and if they didn’t it would be a lot more difficult to keep track. It’s a testament to Ike’s program. That way we can identify deficiencies before they manifest themselves into larger issues that get carried out through later generations of Sailors.” 

In preparation for maintenance assist visits (MAV), the QA team helps the divisions with research and direction on how to deal with situations with a lot of close restrictions to make sure all the necessary aspects are covered.

“I think we do a good job because whatever discrepancies we find, we immediately tackle them,” said Castaneda. “When it comes to surveillance programs, the divisions routinely identify root causes and implement their own corrective actions with our assistance.”

Castaneda added Ike’s audit and surveillance program is by definition aggressive but it can’t be done without the divisions wanting to improve themselves.

During MAV, all QA programs, like audit and surveillance, training, records and retention, get audited and their records are reviewed regularly to ensure fleet standards are complied with.

“It’s all about self-improvement,” said McCarthy. “All of us are continuously trying to make ourselves better. We’ll never reach perfection but there’s always room for improvement.”

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