NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md. -- After two years of requirements development, system configuration, testing, and training Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has implemented the first wave of the Sigma Project, its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System. Sigma integrates finance, project planning and budgeting, procurement, and human resources, into one system using one set of master data.

At one minute after midnight on October 1, 2002, NAVAIR’s Sigma system was powered up and put to work. NAVAIR distributed Fiscal Year 2003 funds to its subordinate commands. Halfway around the world, the Naval Aviation Pacific Repair Activity in Atsugi, Japan accepted the funding allocation and immediately sent a $100,000 funding document to the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division in Patuxent River, MD, utilizing electronic approvals – a technology previously unavailable to the command. The Naval Air Warfare Center, received and accepted the funds, obligated them, and printed a funding document citing the electronic signatures. All these transactions were successfully completed within the first 15 minutes in the new Sigma system.

The October first system standup affected more than 7,000 Civilian, Contractor and Military users at 79 geographic sites including major overseas units in Atsugi, Japan and Naples, Italy. Another wave of implementation set for January 2003 will bring on line another 15,000 personnel at the Naval Air Warfare Centers at Patuxent River, MD; China Lake, Calif.; Lakehurst, NJ; and Pt. Mugu, Calif.

NAVAIR partnered with a team of systems integrators lead by BearingPoint, Inc., (Formerly KPMG Consulting) with subcontractors IBM, SAIC, SAP America, and several small businesses, to implement commercial best practices and streamline business processes.

The Sigma program enables accurate real-time information in one integrated system. NAVAIR now has common processes and business rules as well as a single set of data across all sites and organizational units. This new process-centered system provides managers accurate, real-time information on their programs, and provides employees near real-time access to their human resources information to include items such as career development and training.

NAVAIR’s Enterprise Resource Planning System is comprised of SAP R/3 as the core software with “bolt-on” software packages to handle tasks like Activity Based Costing, Government form generation and Document Management. The Sigma ERP also interfaces to 18 mandated legacy Department of Defense and Department of Navy systems.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch and recovery; from sensor data to precision targeting and real-time communications; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment and sustainment; NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.

For more information about the Naval Air Systems Command, go to www.navair.navy.mil.

For more information contact Bob Coble, NAVAIR TEAM Public Affairs at 301-757-1487.

Cut lines

Cathywright1.jpg – Cathy Wright, Naval Air Systems Command budget analyst distributes funds to NAVAIR’s subordinate commands as Ron Rosenthal, Enterprise Solutions Program Office (ESPO) director, Carol Kurtz, ESPO deputy director, Capt. Robert Moses, deputy commander NAVAIR contracts, Susan Keen, NAVAIR chief information officer, and Patricia Fox, NAVAIR deputy comptroller look on. Vice Admiral Joseph Dyer, commander NAVAIR, anxiously awaits the outcome of the first transaction while on the phone with Rosenthal. Photo by Jennifer A. Young

Napra8.jpg – Commander Mike Berkin, Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Pacific Repair Activity (NAPRA) looks on as Kiyomi Morisato, comptroller for NAPRA accepts a funds allocation from Naval Air Systems Command and executes a funding document to the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division. Photo by Troy Guillotte