I025 - Submission for Russell Egnor Media Awards - Writing - Feature - Michael Brayshaw, NNSY Lead Public Affairs Specialist - Welding the Welders - Released 10/1/14

1. 16 Service to the Fleet, October 201416 Service to the Fleet, October 2014
Welding the Welders:Community of Practice Workshop Joins Nuclear, Non-nuclear Welders
Welding. While the typical
definition of the word at Norfolk
Naval Shipyard (NNSY) is to join
metals together by applying heat, it
can also mean to bring two things
into union or close association
with one another. That second
meaning was the recent goal of
the shipyard’s Nuclear Welding
Community Performance Event.
This event aimed to integrate
NNSY’s nuclear and non-nuclear
communities into a unified,
effective Community of Practice.
Employing Learning Organization
principles, the workshop, held
Aug. 19-22, encouraged candid
discussion of the welding
challenges across the shipyard
among the subject matter experts,
with participants subsequently
identifying ways to mitigate and
eliminate those obstacles. There
were even occasional moments
of levity, as evidenced by the
group name (“Raiders of the Lost
Arc”) addressing the occasional
lack of communication between
engineering and the welding
community during planning.
Mitch King, NNSY’s Quality
Assurance Director, Code 130,
and Tim Jacks, NNSY Structural
Group Superintendent, Code
920, addressed the shipyard’s
most pressing priorities in
welding, including training and
developing highly qualified
welders, eliminating rework and
providing support to one another
when needed. King pointed out
when these objectives are met,
NNSY is able to provide timely
delivery of the Navy’s ships and
submarines so they can return to
service. Reflecting on the overall
effectiveness of the event, King
said, “The most important thing
gained is the building of the team
with a common vision of being the
best nuclear welding program.”
Jeff Saniano, Code 920 Acting
Nuclear Director, said the
workshop provided an important
opportunity to discuss the obstacles
inhibiting first-time quality, and
addressing the “big picture”
issues. He said joining the Welding
Community of Practice (WCOP) is
an important step in the continued
development of NNSY’s nuclear
welding program. “The WCOP
was established in 2012 and has
accomplished many goals and
made improvements for the non-
nuclear side of the house,” he said.
“The WCOP is the vehicle we
will use now to get action items
accomplished from the [workshop]
to improve the nuclear side. I am
confident in our team and our
capabilities.”
In the event’s outbrief with
shipyard leadership, then
Shipyard Commander Capt.
Mark Bridenstine discussed the
importance of Continuous Training
and Development for welders and
ensuring first-time quality. He
challenged the welding community
to re-purpose proven processes
when applicable and brainstorm
new ideas when possible. “What
processes are [the other shipyards]
using? Are there corporate
equivalents? Go explore that;
it doesn’t have to be invented
at NNSY. [But] keep thinking
about what we can do better and
different!”
By Michael Brayshaw, Code 1160
Lead Public Affairs Specialist