MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE
LOCATIONS
20 May 08. The Boeing Company last week began using a moving assembly line for final assembly of the P-8A Poseidon in Renton, Wash. This military derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800 is expected to move through the final assembly process at a continuous pace similar to commercial 737s. “This is another important step toward delivering the first P-8A to the U.S. Navy on schedule,” said Bob Feldmann, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. “The entire team is working extremely hard to meet our commitment to the customer.” Boeing uses the moving assembly line during final assembly positions for the airplane. The P-8s will be positioned in a straight-line configuration on the factory floor and stay at a production station for a period of time before advancing to the next station. Standard processes, visual control systems and point-of-use staging are in place, allowing work to flow continuously and quickly.
16 May 08. Vanguard class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) HMS Victorious undergoes her pre-sea trials inspection today (16 May) as she approaches the end of her three and a half year multi-million pound refit, undertaken by Babcock Marine at Devonport Royal Dockyard. A re-dedication ceremony will take place on 31 May, and a lunch is to be held for ship’s staff and their families and also for the Babcock Marine refit team and their families. Babcock has worked closely with the MoD (DE&S) and ship’s staff in undertaking this complex and substantial Long Overhaul Period (Refuel) [LOP(R)] on HMS Victorious, which is the second trident nuclear submarine refit and refuel to be undertaken at Devonport, and has seen the first use of the new Primary Circuit Decontamination (PCD) facility. Among the most significant elements of the LOP(R) has been the refuelling, upgrade of the reactor to ‘core H’ (which will now take the submarine through to the end of her life without requiring refuelling), and revalidation of the reactor systems. Additionally, improved strategic weapons system equipment has been installed, as well as integration of the tactical weapons Submarine Command System (Next Generation) [SMCS(NG)].
JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
21 May 08. The Boeing Co. is laying off approximately 750 employees in Southern California following a downturn in its satellite assembly and integration business due to the delay in the award of several large government programs, coupled with other market conditions, the company announced Wednesday. The cuts, primarily in the engineering field affecting workers in El Segundo and Seal Beach, will occur in July for the first 100 employees. The remaining affected employees will be notified at the end of June with cuts occurring in July and August. The cuts come less than a week after Boeing lost a contract worth at least $1.4bn to Lockheed Martin Corp. to build the next generation of global positioning system satellites. (Source: Google)
PERSONNEL
19 May 08. The Department of Defense announced today that the 86th Brigade Combat Team, Vermont Army National Guard, has been alerted to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to continue training of the Afghan National Security Forces. The majority of the approximately 3,100 service members alerted will deploy in the spring of 2010. The department has alerted the unit of this deployment to give the soldiers the maximum time possible to conduct training specific to Afghanistan as well as provide predictability for family members and employers. This unit will maintain the current U.S. capability for performing the training mission. This rotation reflects the continued U.S. commitment to Afghanistan and development of the Afghan National Security Forces. Afghan forces continue to improve capability and assume responsibility for security. Force levels in Afghanistan continue to be conditions-based, and are determined based on the recommendations of mil