Aerospace Operational Gap Concerns and Suggestions
Steven Slade Laneer
HRM 531 Human Capital Management
February 11, 2013
Karin Wagner
Aerospace Operational Gap Concerns and Suggestions This memorandum is being written due to a concern over an operational gap within the organization’s Aerospace Program. Thus far, we have successfully passed the third-party AS 9100 Revision C certification audit and were recently given the go-ahead to begin production and distribution of aerospace products. During these beginning stages of this new program, I feel compelled to inform you that as aerospace orders increase, a substantial operational gap will be created. The gap will be created because we do not currently have enough personnel dedicated to aerospace products to efficiently and effectively produce these products on a constant basis. For instance, during the course of our certification, there was a significant amount of overtime put in by key employees, since their schedules were already full due to normal “commercial” orders. I am suggesting that we immediately create a position for an Aerospace Supervisor, who will basically be responsible for the program. He or she will report directly to the Quality and Technical Services Manager, just as the Quality Assurance Supervisor and the Process Engineer do. This will be the first step to ensuring the program experiences continued success as the demand for aerospace orders increases. Please see below for further details and explanation.
Responsibilities for the Position Responsibilities for the position will be those associated with the successful supervision of the aerospace program and its products. The Aerospace Supervisor will ultimately be responsible for ensuring aerospace orders effectively and efficiently meet customer and regulatory compliance. This supervisor will also be responsible for the interpretation of regulations and drawings regarding aerospace products and working hand-in-hand with the sales team and customers to ensure an understanding of the technical aspects of the products before orders are produced. He or she will also be responsible for internal and external audits and those parts of the Quality Management System that are associated with aerospace products. The Aerospace Supervisor will report directly to the Quality and Technical Services Manager, as does the Quality Assurance Supervisor and the Process Engineer.
Attributes Required by the Position Common duties associated with the Aerospace Supervisor position would include the following: Implementation and maintenance of the Quality Management System per AS 9100 Revision C requirements. Playing a key role in the Continuous Improvement Program (Kaizen, 6s, 7 Wastes). Supervision and coordination of internal and external aerospace program audit teams and schedules. The daily interpretation, review, and approval of specifications, drawings and requests for quote is mandatory. The coordination and management of preventive and corrective actions, customer satisfaction, and data collection and analysis is very important. Work instruction review and approval. Supervision of various personnel and activities on a day-to-day basis will be necessary. Experience required for the position should include a solid knowledge of the following “hard skills”:
AS 9100 Revision C
ISO 9001:2008
Quality Management Systems
Quality Assurance
Internal and External Audits
Continuous Improvement
Six Sigma (black belt preferred)
Theory of Constraints
Data Collection and Analysis
Employee Training and Development
Customer Satisfaction Experience required for the position should include a solid knowledge of the following “soft skills”:
Excellent Communication Skills (Bilingual a Plus)
Conflict Resolution
Leadership
Innovation
Effective Team Building Skills
Positive “Can Do” Attitude
Organizational Positioning of the Opportunity The organizational positioning of the Aerospace Supervisor position would be