that are based on the fleet CINC manuals. Since these CINC and TYCOM manuals apply to a wide range of ship types, equipment, and resources, the instructions are  necessarily  general  in  nature.  Therefore,  each activity must implement its own QA program that meets the intent of the latest versions of the fleet CINC and TYCOM  QA  manuals.  If  higher  authority  imposes  more stringent requirements, they will take precedence. The Navy’s  QA  program  applies  to  maintenance  done aboard  ship  by  the  ship’s  force,  in  intermediate maintenance  activities  (IMAs),  shore  intermediate maintenance  activities  (SIMAs),  ship  repair  facilities (SRFs)  and  shipyards.  However,  this  chapter  will concentrate on QA work done by the ship’s force. QA PROGRAM COMPONENTS The  QA  program  includes  administrative  and  job components. The administrative component includes the requirement to train and qualify personnel, monitor and audit programs, and complete the QA forms and records.  The  job  component  includes  the  requirement  to prepare  work  procedures,  meet  controlled  material requirements,  requisition  and  receive  material,  conduct in-process control of fabrication and repairs, test and recertify equipment, and document any departure from specifications. THE QA LINK TO MAINTENANCE The Navy has a long-standing requirement that maintenance  work  must  meet  technical  specifications. The   person   doing   the   maintenance   is   directly responsible for that requirement. Therefore, any worker who is expected to do the job properly must be properly trained, provided with correct tools and parts, familiar with the technical manuals and plans, and adequately supervised. These elements continue to be the primary means  to  assure  that  maintenance  is  performed correctly. Once  there  is  a  decision  to  proceed  with maintenance, you must apply QA requirements at the same time you plan the maintenance and supervise its completion. You will find technical information in a variety   of   sources,   and   you   must   decide   what information fits a particular job. This may be the most difficult part of your planning effort. Once you decide, the  maintenance  objective  becomes  two-fold:  (1)  be sure the maintenance work meets all specifications, and (2)  be  sure  the  documentation  is  complete  and  accurate and can be audited. THE  QUALITY  ASSURANCE ORGANIZATION The  Navy’s  QA  program  organization  begins  with the fleet CINCs, who provide the basic QA program requirements.   The   TYCOMs   provide   instruction, policy,  and  overall  direction  to  implement  and  operate the force QA program. Each TYCOM assigns a force QA officer to administer the force QA program. The ships’  commanding  officers  (COs)  are  responsible  to  the TYCOM, via the chain of command, for QA on their ships. The CO organizes and implements a QA program within  the  ship  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the TYCOM’s   QA   program,   and   he   assigns   key   QA personnel for that purpose. In most cases, these key personnel  are  on  collateral  duty  assignments.  We  will give you a brief description of the responsibilities of each of these positions followed by a discussion of their training and qualifications in the following pages. THE COMMANDING OFFICER The CO is responsible for the quality of material within   a   command,   but   he   depends   on   the   full cooperation of all hands to help meet this responsibility. The  CO  cannot  maintain  high  standards  of  quality workmanship by merely creating a QA organization within  a  maintenance  organization.  The  organization must have the full support of everyone within it. It is not the inspection instruments and instructions that bring high standards of quality; it is the attitudes of those who do the work. In the following paragraphs, we will look at  the  training  and  responsibilities  for  the  key  QA personnel  previously  described. THE  QUALITY  ASSURANCE  OFFICER The quality assurance officer (QAO) is usually a collateral duty with the following responsibilities for the ship’s  QA  program: l l l l Coordinate  the  QA  training  program  as  an integral  part  of  the  ship’s  overall  training program. Maintain   ship’s   QA   records   and   test   and inspection  reports. Maintain  departure-from-specifications  records that can be audited, and review procedures and controlled work packages prepared by the ship. Conduct QA audits as required and follow up on corrective  action  to  comply  with  the  QA program. 8-2