ORLANDO, Fla. –
Detection to prevention is a tool Defense Contract Management Agency employees can make sure customers get the quality products they paid for.
Twelve DCMA Orlando employees attended a one-day workshop, Product Quality Deficiency Report Workshop, which focused on detection to prevention and other surveillance methods, Sept. 14. The purpose of the workshop was to ensure quality assurance specialists were familiarized with the PQDR policy, how to accomplish the policy requirements in the Product Data Reporting and Evaluation Program, and how the data can be used when conducting contractors’ risk assessments to prevent repeat deficiencies or nonconformances.
Samuel McMillan, the contract management office’s Deficiency Report Policy Program manager, taught the course. Each employee received a workbook, which contained illustrations and examples, while working in the PDREP system.
“This workshop was developed to enhance the quality assurance representatives’ skill set in deficiency reporting and will ensure suppliers take effective corrective actions to address the root cause of the product deficiency and to preclude recurrence,” said Tommy Moody, a quality assurance supervisor here. “PQDRs serve as the warfighter’s way to submit a customer complaint, which provides the QAR feedback on government contract quality assurance surveillance planning.”
During the training, employees became more familiar with the Deficiency Report Policy and use of PQDR information to develop and analyze trends, adjust surveillance plans, and how to issue corrective actions to the contractor.
“By better understanding PQDRs and PDREP, the team becomes more efficient in responding to and handling the deficiency reports,” said Moody. “The PQDR provides insight that helps employees adjust their contractor surveillance program, and ultimately the warfighter receives a higher quality product. Follow-up training will be provided to address new policies and to accommodate new and newly transferred QARs.”
Moody said using the PDREP program is paramount to providing excellent customer service.
“By utilizing the PDREP system data to look for trends and act on the information accordingly, the QAR is able to adjust their contractor surveillance plan,” he said. “By doing so, we get closer to achieving the goals of our detection to prevention initiative, which is to identify and prevent quality issues during the production build and before the final product leaves the production floor and reaches the warfighter.”
According to Moody, employees need feedback from customers to enhance the service provided.
“The DCMA Orlando team is comprised of highly skilled professionals who perform quality assurance on several major acquisition defense programs such as the Thunderbolt aircraft and the Black Hawk helicopter,” said Moody. “Our personnel execute policies and procedures to ensure the contractor has a system in place to produce a quality product in accordance with contractual requirements.
“We are the independent eyes and ears of the Department of Defense and its partners, delivering actionable acquisition in site from the factory floor to the front line around the world. QARs are the eyes and ears of the DoD in the contractor facility, utilizing systems audits, process reviews and product examinations to ensure the warfighter receives a quality product and that the contractor complies with the quality standards laid out in the contract. We have an important job.”