September 2012 THE SHIPBUILDER The USS Independence (LCS-2) arrives at NASSCO’s Dry Dock. More on page 5. www.nassco.com

President’s Corner President’s Corner Having worked in the shipbuilding and repair industry for 46 years, I have seen first-hand the incredible engineering feats and production activities that our skilled trades people participate in each and every day. I have met and worked with the most innovative people, and have made great friends along the way. As General Dynamics NASSCO prepares to celebrate the dedication of several hundred employees this month with our annual service awards festivities, it occurred to me that many of you have also experienced similar excitement about being a part of our...

The ProductBuild Build The Product We We SOC-5’s First of Class Success The hardworking members of NASSCO’s SOC-5 Team In SOC-5, the first of a class is usually synonymous with high cost and schedule variance, transferred work, and a massive number of challenges that require resolution. However, within the first weeks of the MLP contract, it was apparent that this ship was not the norm. It was clear from the start that NASSCO as a whole was better prepared for the start of the MLP contract than previous classes of ships that we had worked on in the past. With the design complete, the material...

Industry News Industry News The USS Independence (LCS-2) arrives at NASSCO’s Dry Dock from the federal agencies affected. The process is said to have been used over the years in other budgets, but now the federal government may be impacted by one of the biggest sequestrations to date, primarily affecting military and domestic programs. A study from the National University System Institute for Policy Research estimates that sequestration’s 10 percent cutback, along with the expiration of roughly $3.5 billion in Bush era tax cuts in 2013, could have an adverse ripple effect on the local business...

Colleague Connection Colleague Connection Payroll Implements 5S Plan 5S is making its way around NASSCO. Earlier this year, The Shipbuilder presented articles focusing on the benefits of 5S from the perspective of the MLP-1 Tank Team and from NASSCO’s Electrical Shop. In this article we will present how 5S can be implemented in an office environment through the example set by NASSCO’s Payroll Department. Items in the Payroll office that were tagged for removal Items being prepared for archiving Office picture before 5S plan was implemented Office picture after 5S plan was implemented Before we...

In the Community In the Community FASEA Celebrates Summer with Their Annual Family Picnic The Filipino American Shipbuilder Employee Association (FASEA) held their 2012 Family Picnic on July 28 at Mariner Park in San Diego. FASEA members spent the afternoon relaxing in the company of family and friends while enjoying a wide array of Filipino food. The summer event was dotted with moments of dancing, singing and games aimed at building stronger relationships among the attendees. FASEA began with a small group of individuals in 2008, with the mission to provide cultural identity to NASSCO employees...

Safety and Security Safety and Security Current Safety Metrics NASSCO Direct Employees Only NASSCO – San Diego. Year to date the number of injuries has been reduced by 30 percent from 110 to 77 from 2011. However the number of injuries requiring days away from work has been on the rise. This is reflected in NASSCO’s recordable rate which is 4.5; two percent below the goal of 4.6. The frequency rate is 2.4; nine percent above the goal of 2.2. NASSCO – Norfolk had 30 injuries through the end of July of 2012 yielding a recordable rate of 5.3. Only nine of these injuries required days away from work,...

accounts due to the increased anxiety that it could happen again. Identity theft can happen to anyone, and it can happen to you. How Does it Happen? The thieves need personal information about you which can be used to commit the identity theft crime against you. In their February 2012 newsletter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of Los Angeles Field Office identified how this crime is so easily perpetrated: •  Dumpster Diving - criminals look through your central or curbside trash containers for any shred of personal information on it. •  Skimming - credit/debit card information is stolen...

Health and Wellness Health and Wellness It’s Time to Prepare for Annual Enrollment! November 14 to November 30 Thoughts on Kaiser PHAP The following thoughts were shared by Annual Enrollment occurs one time each year allowing employees and their families to review their employees who chose to sign-up for the Kaiser PHAP during Annual Enrollment in current medical and dental needs and determine the best possible choices that will become effective January 1, 2013. 2011: “I haven’t had any problems with the Kaiser PHAP plan, and can use the money I save in my HSA to pay for medical, dental and any...

Anyone can get the flu. By getting the flu vaccine, you can protect yourself from influenza and may also avoid spreading the influenza to others. Flu can cause high fever and pneumonia and can make existing medical conditions worse. Each year, thousands of people die from influenza, and even more require hospitalization. Influenza viruses are always changing, so annual vaccination is recommended. It takes up to two weeks for protection to develop after the shot, and protection lasts approximately one year. The CDC recommends getting the vaccine as soon as it is available so that you will be protected...

Upcoming Events Upcoming Events SIGNs News SIGNs continues to stay active as summer comes to a close. The President’s Cup Bowling tournament was another success. The day started out with NASSCO bowlers taking up at least a third of the bowling alley. The final game between Repair Team 1 and Steel SOC-3 Team 1 went down with a fight. Repair Team 1 was victorious in beating the SOC-3 team in the first two games. Third place went to Repair Team 2. Surprisingly, we saw teams who have improved their game, making it further into the tournament. Great job to all participants! President’s Cup Bowling...