By Cdr. Jim Matsey, USNR, NADEP 0386, and Lt. Mike Randazzo, USNR, Air Systems Program Public Affairs Officer

CHERRY POINT, N.C.--“Unsurpassed Service to the Fleet. Relentless Focus on Quality,” is the Naval Air Depot (NAVAIRDEPOT) Cherry Point motto. By creating a best-in-class public Web site that enables the Depot to realize this motto, Air Systems Program (ASP) Naval Aviation Depot Detachment 0386 also helped save the Navy over $60,000 in development costs.

The Naval Air Depot, located on the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point near Havelock, North Carolina, is one of eastern North Carolina’s largest industries. It is one of three major industrial facilities specializing in depot-level aircraft maintenance and worldwide engineering and logistics military weapon systems management for the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).

NAVAIR Depot Cherry Point supports and re-works increasingly complicated aircraft weapon systems requiring a corresponding growth in manufacturing, repair technologies, engineering and logistics capabilities. The Depot houses the latest in automated manufacturing and repair technologies with a highly skilled workforce of over 3,000 employees.

NAVAIR Depot Cherry Point is ISO 9001 registered and a leader in the implementation of Total Quality Management.

“In their effort to maximize efficiencies and the quality of reworked aircraft and system components, NAVAIR Depot Cherry Point made the professional commitment and adopted the ISO 9000 model for continual process and quality improvement,” said Rear Adm. (Sel) Pete Williams, Assistant Commander, NAVAIR Industrial Operations Group (AIR-6.0). "Adherence to these international standards and the stated commitment to continual improvement are specific business objectives of the Depot," Williams elaborated.

The unit completed a project that has enabled Cherry Point’s Naval Engine Airfoil Center (NEAC) to better serve their customers and further achieve their business objective of continual process and quality improvement. Unit members designed and built a Web site (http://www.nadepcp.navy.mil/neac/) for the Airfoil Center that is now fully operational and provides their customers seven day a week, 24 hours a day support.

The center's ability to repair worn and damaged aircraft turbine and compressor blades, vanes, and other parts provides significant costs savings to its customers and to the Navy. The NEAC restores these critical, expensive parts to "like new" condition at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new replacement parts. The center's integral engineering staff also develops new techniques to increase the number of airfoil components available for repair.

"This site is intended to improve understanding and communication among the Center, the Fleet units it supports, other agencies, and the public on its services and products. This Web site also helps raise awareness of the NEAC’s services to prospective Department of Defense customers," said Capt. Mark K. Braizier, USNR, the unit's commanding officer.

The Web site complies with NMCI, Task Force Web, and Section 508 accessibility requirements. During its construction, the unit's 3-person development team was able to re-use existing digital multimedia and hardware assets.

"This Web site project provided a cost avoidance to NAVAIR Depot Cherry Point of approximately $60,000 in development costs and is a concrete example of how our Air Systems Program Reservists add value and enhance the NAVAIR mission," reported Howard Germroth, the Depot's Power Plants Division Director, going on to say that the potential cost savings to the Fleet is “huge."

Reworking jet engine blades costs the Navy approximately one-third the price of a new replacement set. For example, over the ten-year period from 1992-2002 the cost of such blade replacements Navy-wide was $182 million; a modest 10% increase in use of these NEAC rework services would result in a cost avoidance exceeding $18 million dollars alone.

“By being available to the Fleet on a 24/7/365 basis, this Web site will educate personnel on the NEAC's engine airfoil services as a viable alternative to the more traditional approach of purchasing new replacement blades,” Germroth elaborated.

Future versions of the site, which will be engineered by the ASP Reserve unit, will expand the information presented on the site, improve the search engine, and provide levels of personalization to further improve ease of use, while continuing to maintain compliance with the Navy's mobile code, privacy, and accessibility guidance.

The Air Systems Program provides qualified and diverse civilian and military experience in operational support of NAVAIR research and development, engineering, program management, logistics, and industrial capability activities. The 650 Navy Reserve officer and enlisted men and women of the ASP train constantly to respond to evolving NAVAIR missions enabling the organization to harvest tangible cost reductions for fleet recapitalization. The ASP is comprised of 32 units located in 14 states.

For more information, contact Lt. Mike Randazzo via e-mail at [email protected].