7 | 18 | 2016
A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
Employees and Leaders to Discuss the Importance of Proper Time Charging Birdcage Team Front Row (L to R): X42 Foreman Bernard Martin, Curt Babcock (X42), Aaron Anderson (X42), George Liufau (X42), Daniel Boyer (X42), John Spence (X18), Rikece Campbell (X18), X18 Foreman Matthew O. Quinn. Second Row (L to R): John Perkins (X42), Adam Butler (X18). Photo by John Whalen
Birdcage Team Delivers “Best-Ever” Results On February 29, the Virginia-Class Submarine (VCS) Program and Pipe Shop leadership recognized the birdcage team for delivering a birdcage assembly with the greatest cost and schedule performance recorded to date. The team who is responsible for building the largest pipe assembly on a VCS submarine, commonly known as the “birdcage,” recently completed the Delaware (SSN 791) birdcage, achieving a 62 percent cost reduction compared to the USS Mississippi (SSN 782). “Our team is successful because we are so diverse and utilize our collective experiences and backgrounds for beneficial gains,” said Daniel Boyer (X42). To celebrate the team’s accomplishment, the Pipe Shop held an appreciation luncheon and VCS Program Director Matt Needy recognized the team by giving them each a signature coin.
2016 MOE Nominees and Award Recipients Announced Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin is pleased to announce the nominees and award recipients for the 2016 Model of Excellence (MOE) Awards. From leadership and operational excellence to customer service and innovation, congratulations to all of the shipbuilders being recognized this year. New for 2016, The Courage to Make a Difference Award distinguishes teams or projects that demonstrate courage with regard to behaviors that positively change the company culture or make a difference in the company or community. MOE recipients will be honored in a special awards ceremony on Sept. 28. See the full list of this year’s nominees and award recipients inside this edition of Currents.
This week, all employees will be meeting with their foremen, supervisors and leaders to discuss the importance of proper time charging and to reinforce employee responsibilities around Newport News Shipbuilding timekeeping practices. The specific attention to time charging is about making the business stronger, being proactive, maximizing performance, and managing current and future contracts. In a July 14 video message to employees, NNS President Matt Mulherin said, “Properly charging your time is about more than just receiving a paycheck, and this is something every employee should understand. During the week of July 18, I’ve asked the leadership team to meet with employees across the shipyard as part of a company-wide effort to discuss the importance of our timekeeping requirements. It’s critically important to our success, and I appreciate your focus, attention and discussion on this subject.” Every NNS employee is responsible for accurately reporting and verifying their own time on a daily basis. Employee time charging responsibilities are outlined in Time and Attendance Reporting Policy NN 10-403.
The Community Congratulates NNS on 130 Years Visit the 130th Anniversary website to watch new congratulatory video messages. A new video is added to the website each week.