Navy air-launched missile maintenance process action teams-a bridge between technology and total quality management

Current Navy air launched missile (ALM) maintenance includes automatic test equipment (ATE) with varying levels of technology, training, software, and test requirements. These factors, along with excessive and redundant testing have greatly increased maintenance costs. Subsequent ATE inefficiencies and obsolescence influenced the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to form a Quality Management Board (QMB) to address these problems. The QMB established thirteen Process Action Teams (PAT´s) to evaluate the Navy´s ALM testing philosophies. This paper outlines the current PAT efforts and accomplishments with emphasis on Army and Air Force practices such as mobile and proximity testing