We have established a Quality Assurance (QA) process for the SEAPORT Enhanced contract that consists of four essential elements: 1) an ability to ensure quality and timeliness of products and deliverables, 2) a well-established quality plan, 3) quality procedures and processes, and 4) a plan to exercise product quality control on subcontractor-delivered products.

Our quality process is based on International Organization for Standards (ISO), CMM and American Society for Quality (ASQ) principles. EG&G is a registered ISO 9002 company and its Dahlgren Operation has been CMM assessed at Level 2 and is actively pursuing a Level 3 assessment by February 2005. Our long-range corporate plan is to transition to the CMMI processes and methodologies once CMM Level 3 is obtained and to export these processes to other zones/ operations. Many of our Teammates have achieved a Level 2 or higher CMM assessment and all will conform to CMM-based processes in providing customer support. Our Team also employs certified ASQ personnel and will employ those principles to meet PEO, NAVSEA Directorate and Warfare Center quality expectations.

Our quality plan is derived from our CMM documented processes and emphasizes participation by personnel at all levels. We have established and are implementing key process areas at Levels 2 and 3 under the guidance of our Engineering Process Group (EPG). Our senior management team is committed to CMM and has established a culture of continuous process improvement.

Quality procedures and processes are documented within the quality plan and are tailored to each individual TO. Requirements are established, with realistic measurements and goals, and then evaluated using peer reviews and quality audits. Products are submitted to the customer wherein feedback is obtained and improvement initiatives determined.

Quality control of subcontractor products starts with the selection of teammates with a similar business philosophy and commitment to quality improvement and customer satisfaction. We share quality processes and procedures with new Teammates; audit subcontractor QA processes; compare, assess and recommend changes to subcontractor quality programs; request/approve a subcontractor quality plan; establish quality mentor programs and performance metrics for all tasks; perform quality process audits and quality product reviews; collect and document metrics; identify and report quality issues to subcontractor senior management; initiate and monitor corrective action plans; and, if necessary, use our six-step resolution process to resolve issues.

As previously mentioned above, our quality process is based on ISO, CMM and ASQ principles. We will use these principles across the Team, nationally and by zone, through the implementation of an organization-wide quality plan. Through our Performance Management Teams, each Zone Manager (ZM) will take part in adapting the EG&G corporate QA plan to suit the needs of each individual customer and will have the authority and responsibility to implement and monitor the execution of this plan within the respective zone. However, ultimate responsibility for quality assurance resides with the individual performing the work. By assigning appropriately qualified and dedicated personnel to each task and by making sure task performers understand the work requirements, schedules and resource constraints, our ZMs will minimize the overhead required to deliver quality products and services. Each ZM will be responsible to our Program Director for successful implementation and will be evaluated as part of an annual performance evaluation to ensure established goals and objectives have been met.