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| HMS Astute: quality control the key to restoring hunter-killer sub's reputation | HMS Astute: quality control the key to restoring hunter-killer sub's reputation |
| (8 days later) | |
| The history of procurement disasters at the Ministry of Defence is a long and dispiriting one and nobody wants the Astute submarine programme – already costing close to £10bn – to join the list. In some respects, it already has, because of the delays and budget increases over the last 15 years. | The history of procurement disasters at the Ministry of Defence is a long and dispiriting one and nobody wants the Astute submarine programme – already costing close to £10bn – to join the list. In some respects, it already has, because of the delays and budget increases over the last 15 years. |
| Its reputation can be redeemed if it can prove itself to be the submarine the Royal Navy hopes and needs it to be. But at this stage, it remains an "if". | Its reputation can be redeemed if it can prove itself to be the submarine the Royal Navy hopes and needs it to be. But at this stage, it remains an "if". |
| Success will turn on the Astute project team's ability to find cost-efficient solutions to the remaining problems, such as the lack of speed. Much is at stake. | Success will turn on the Astute project team's ability to find cost-efficient solutions to the remaining problems, such as the lack of speed. Much is at stake. |
| That is why sensitivity about the Astute programme is acute, and why some officers in the Royal Navy, including the Astute's current commander, Steven Walker, are indignant that the Guardian has published details of some of the problems. | That is why sensitivity about the Astute programme is acute, and why some officers in the Royal Navy, including the Astute's current commander, Steven Walker, are indignant that the Guardian has published details of some of the problems. |
| They argue that it is normal for such a sophisticated piece of machinery to suffer setbacks. The sea trials are there to test things and solve problems, they say. Leaks can be fixed and corrosion repaired. | They argue that it is normal for such a sophisticated piece of machinery to suffer setbacks. The sea trials are there to test things and solve problems, they say. Leaks can be fixed and corrosion repaired. |
| All of which is true, but none of which should preclude proper scrutiny of a project that has so far hardly been a gold standard for good housekeeping and secure management. Perhaps the real issue here is the apparent failures in the quality control regime that seem to have caused the problems in the first place. | All of which is true, but none of which should preclude proper scrutiny of a project that has so far hardly been a gold standard for good housekeeping and secure management. Perhaps the real issue here is the apparent failures in the quality control regime that seem to have caused the problems in the first place. |
| The quality assurance (QA) system is central to the construction of any complex piece of military machinery. Equipment requiring QA level one will often be engraved, and a detailed history retained. This will show everything about it – where materials were sourced from, who made it, and who installed it. | The quality assurance (QA) system is central to the construction of any complex piece of military machinery. Equipment requiring QA level one will often be engraved, and a detailed history retained. This will show everything about it – where materials were sourced from, who made it, and who installed it. |
| In an industry where a small nut or bolt can cost up to £1,000, and be required to perform an important role, this is a necessity. The QA regime is there for safety reasons and to give confidence that other cogs in the system do not jam. | In an industry where a small nut or bolt can cost up to £1,000, and be required to perform an important role, this is a necessity. The QA regime is there for safety reasons and to give confidence that other cogs in the system do not jam. |
| The cap that failed on the water cooling pipe on HMS Astute was supposed to have QA1 status, but somehow a cap made of the wrong material was installed. The MoD and BAE Systems, which has the contract for building the Astute submarines, have refused to be drawn on how this happened and why they think it cannot happen again. | The cap that failed on the water cooling pipe on HMS Astute was supposed to have QA1 status, but somehow a cap made of the wrong material was installed. The MoD and BAE Systems, which has the contract for building the Astute submarines, have refused to be drawn on how this happened and why they think it cannot happen again. |
| The memo from the MoD that has now been published by the Guardian is explicit about the concerns around QA. It is the reason why HMS Astute and its sister ship, HMS Ambush, have suffered corrosion, even though they are essentially new. | The memo from the MoD that has now been published by the Guardian is explicit about the concerns around QA. It is the reason why HMS Astute and its sister ship, HMS Ambush, have suffered corrosion, even though they are essentially new. |
| "There seems to be a severe lack of quality control and quality assurance. One gets the view that quality control has not given due prominence. All the corrosion issues … have been due to the lack of quality control yet the investigators … have put them aside. | "There seems to be a severe lack of quality control and quality assurance. One gets the view that quality control has not given due prominence. All the corrosion issues … have been due to the lack of quality control yet the investigators … have put them aside. |
| "I do not think that it is the appropriate way a corporate body should address quality control issues … I would advise Astute project to make a thorough investigation and obtain an understanding of why and how such failures occurred? Most importantly, quality control should be strengthened." | "I do not think that it is the appropriate way a corporate body should address quality control issues … I would advise Astute project to make a thorough investigation and obtain an understanding of why and how such failures occurred? Most importantly, quality control should be strengthened." |
| This is what has alarmed union leaders, such as Prospect's Steve Jary, who fears the MoD has lost so many civilian specialists that it no longer has the ability to keep a proper eye on QA issues. And while the MoD insists the problems will not mean the submarines will need to be repaired more often – at potentially huge expense – that view is not shared by John Large, the nuclear submarine expert. "The implications of these revelations are that the submarines are likely to be held over out of service longer during future maintenance spells and, of course, there are costly safety and operational issues arising from this," he said. | This is what has alarmed union leaders, such as Prospect's Steve Jary, who fears the MoD has lost so many civilian specialists that it no longer has the ability to keep a proper eye on QA issues. And while the MoD insists the problems will not mean the submarines will need to be repaired more often – at potentially huge expense – that view is not shared by John Large, the nuclear submarine expert. "The implications of these revelations are that the submarines are likely to be held over out of service longer during future maintenance spells and, of course, there are costly safety and operational issues arising from this," he said. |
| "Putting aside the accelerated corrosion and repairing issues, which are serious enough for a fighting vessel, this report strongly suggests that the MoD are acting alone without consulting the designers and builders of the Astute boats." | "Putting aside the accelerated corrosion and repairing issues, which are serious enough for a fighting vessel, this report strongly suggests that the MoD are acting alone without consulting the designers and builders of the Astute boats." |
| How the wrong lead came to be used in the water jacket around the nuclear reactor, nobody will say. The computer switchboards that were placed so close together have been changed, but how they were installed incorrectly in the first place (flouting the navy's own safety regulations) is anyone's guess. | How the wrong lead came to be used in the water jacket around the nuclear reactor, nobody will say. The computer switchboards that were placed so close together have been changed, but how they were installed incorrectly in the first place (flouting the navy's own safety regulations) is anyone's guess. |
| The navy says the Astute is a more complex machine than the space shuttle, so little wonder the boat has had some glitches. It also says, and nobody doubts, that it would not knowingly send any of its sailors to sea in a boat it knew to be unsafe. But that, again, seems to be missing the point. | The navy says the Astute is a more complex machine than the space shuttle, so little wonder the boat has had some glitches. It also says, and nobody doubts, that it would not knowingly send any of its sailors to sea in a boat it knew to be unsafe. But that, again, seems to be missing the point. |
| The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Scotland was a lone voice on Friday in calling for the Astute submarines to be scrapped: most experts and politicians just want the Astute to be able to fulfil a potential that should have been realised years ago, though it is still – seven years after it was first scheduled to be launched – undertaking extensive sea trials to ensure it works properly. | The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Scotland was a lone voice on Friday in calling for the Astute submarines to be scrapped: most experts and politicians just want the Astute to be able to fulfil a potential that should have been realised years ago, though it is still – seven years after it was first scheduled to be launched – undertaking extensive sea trials to ensure it works properly. |
| Every penny counts at the MoD at the moment. Thousands of people – serving personnel and civil servants – have been made redundant. Thousands more will go next year too. | Every penny counts at the MoD at the moment. Thousands of people – serving personnel and civil servants – have been made redundant. Thousands more will go next year too. |
| The MoD cannot afford another procurement embarrassment. | The MoD cannot afford another procurement embarrassment. |
| All of which suggests the navy has nothing to fear from the defence select committee investigating the problems so far, and everything to gain by having a light shone on a procurement process that has often failed the military, failed taxpayers, and caused apoplexy for ministers and senior civil servants around Whitehall. | All of which suggests the navy has nothing to fear from the defence select committee investigating the problems so far, and everything to gain by having a light shone on a procurement process that has often failed the military, failed taxpayers, and caused apoplexy for ministers and senior civil servants around Whitehall. |
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