With a focus on people, parts and processes and a commitment to providing artisans with the tools need to get the job done, the Naval Sustainment System initiative is expected to increase production throughput at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE).

That’s the message delivered by Rear Adm. Mike Zarkowski, Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers, as he launched the local NSS initiative May 20 at the facility, discussing the catalysts for the program and the results it has produced to date.

“We have to be ready to give the warfighter what they need,” Zarkowski said, noting that the roadblocks to readiness could not be addressed solely at the depot level, and that’s where NSS comes in. “Now, we have an opportunity, and we have to seize this opportunity. There is absolute commitment from top leadership.

“This place is absolutely a force multiplier, and you will continue to be a force multiplier,” he continued, addressing a group of just under 300 artisans, engineers, support staff and leadership. “You will be putting out more components, and more aircraft, with the same safety ratings that you have today, on time, on cost, every time.”

The kickoff marks FRCE’s official entrance into the NSS pillar initiative that focuses on fleet readiness center reform. Reforms have been implemented at three other organizations across the Navy: Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW), Fleet Readiness Center South and, most recently, Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic.

NSS—introduced by the Secretary of the Navy in fall 2018 as an approach to generating readiness—applies commercial industry best practices to Naval Aviation programs in order to increase aircraft readiness and lethality, and it is producing results. The 18-month initiative aims to increase availability of mission-capable F/A-18E/F Super Hornets by October 2019.

Within six months, an additional 71 aircraft have become mission capable, Zarkowski said.

 “That is the power of this initiative. That is the power of the sustainment system that we are implementing,” Zarkowski said. “And what we’ve learned since we’ve been on this journey will scale across all platforms.”

In addition to boosting readiness of the Super Hornet, NSS will eventually increase readiness as a whole, as lessons learned extend across all type/model/series communities.

Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Masiello, Program Executive Director for Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault & Special Mission Programs, emphasized this point.

“This is not about Super Hornets—this is about readiness,” he said. “This is about the entire force being ready.”

“It’s about sustainment through all platforms,” agreed Capt. Tony Jaramillo, commanding officer at FRCSW, where NSS was first launched.

At FRCE, NSS will initially track three components produced for the F/A-18. Adoption of the program began in the valves and regulators shop, and FRCE is well on its way to success in this area, Jaramillo said.

“That shop looks just like my hydraulics shop,” he noted. “You’re probably 90 percent of the way there already, and this is a great jump-start to the program at your facility.”

As part of NSS, the valves and regulators shop has installed new lighting and electrical system, new workbenches, new shelving and other upgrades. A status board tracks the progress. The shop has seen a difference already, recently hitting production marks 10 percent over their 12-week goal.

Jaramillo encouraged the FRC East workforce to “keep digging in, and keep learning” because the human factor is key to NSS success.

“Yes, it’s going to take a little getting used to,” he said. “But embrace it. It won’t be perfect from the beginning. It requires buy-in from all levels. This works, and it’s important to contribute to the process, to press forward with what we’re doing.”

Buy-in from all levels includes everyone from leadership at FRCE, which is committed to the success of NSS, to the artisans who produce the components and turn the wrenches.

“From a leadership perspective at FRCE, we are completely on board with this, and we’ve been looking forward to this,” said Capt. Mark E. Nieto, FRCE executive officer. “This goes along with Col. [Clarence] Harper’s mantra of the artisans as surgeons. We have to give the artisans everything they need to execute.”

“The artisans can build anything,” Jaramillo added. “They can make anything; we just have to give them the resources.”