Brenda K. Brunello Quality Manager November 14, 2007 WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER How to Make the Most of an Assessment by NASA

Space Dynamics Laboratory Corporate Profile –A nonprofit corporation wholly owned by Utah State University –Federally chartered as a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) –~350 employees Locations –The research and development campus with over 200,000 ft2 of state-of-the-art facilities is in North Logan, UT –Field offices are in Washington, DC; Bedford, MA; and Albuquerque, NM Capabilities, Experience & Facilities –Design, assembly, calibration and test of aerospace sensors, complete payloads, and spacecraft busses –Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data tools and sensors –Delivered more than 400 successful space missions –World-class fabrication, testing, and calibration facilities

Facilities Overview Electronics Laboratories Cryogenic and Vacuum Equipment Build and Testing Design and Fabrication/ Machine Shop Clean Rooms and High Bay Assembly Areas Environmental and Mechanical Test Facilities Computer Software, Modeling and Simulation Unique Cryogenic IR Sensor Calibration Equipment Complete PCB Design, Assembly & Test Capability Cable & Harness Assembly Capability

Capabilities Electro-optical sensor research and development for space-, air-, and ground-based systems –IR, Visible and UV sensors –Multi and hyperspectral sensors –Imaging and non-imaging spectrometers Test and evaluation –Sensor calibration and characterization Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance –Data compression –Software development –Data exploitation –Tactical sensors Other key technologies –Thermal design for cryo systems –In situ sensors –Modeling and simulation –Agriculture science and sensing –Small sat systems & missions

We Are All In This Together…  NASA Goddard is making a concerted effort to ensure their suppliers are compliant with AS/ISO/NASA requirements  The supplier is responsible to show compliance (“deliver the mail”)

The Problems with Assessments o Time Consuming o Preparation Prior o Assessment Itself o Follow-up Afterward o Not viewed as value add by... o Costly o Risky o Stressful

The Benefits of Assessments  Provides an opportunity to increase depth of understanding of NASA’s views on compliance  Provides a fresh perspective on the robustness of your processes and process controls  Creates a baseline for ongoing process improvements  Provides a training opportunity for internal Quality personnel  Provides a great opportunity to show the customer how effective your organization is!

The Preparation Side of Assessments Know your audit material: –Applicable NASA Standards –AS9100 –ISO 9000:2000 requirements –Other Contractual Requirements Know your quality system documentation, records, requirements, etc. Meet with the core team that will support the assessment Determine who your subject matter experts are and use them

The Preparation Side of Assessments Have your objective evidence ready –Internal Audit Reports –Management Review Records –Calibration Data –NCR Process & Status –GIDEP & DPAS Rating Process Controls –Applicable program requirements, process control documents, and records Walk the areas to be audited Walk the areas to be audited again….. First impressions are lasting impressions

The Assessment You Either Agree or … Not  Again, have your objective evidence ready  Follow the wisdom of Covey and “Seek first to understand and then to be understood” ® Covey, Steven R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. NY: Simon & Schuster, 2004  When responding to an audit question:  State your position and  Support your position with data  No time left for the discussion?  Take exception in your follow-up responses

After the Assessment Manage the corrective action follow-up process  Typically, 20+ non-conformances / observations cited Provide evidence of status to an agreed schedule with NASA  This process will force you to stay on target with the process improvements  The follow-up assessment will go more smoothly if you have communicated progress over time

After the Assessment Take those exceptions if you feel that you have strong evidence that negates the non-conformance or observation Communicate  Internally  With NASA

After the Assessment Use your internal corrective and preventive action processes to document C/A, P/A and verification Agree to the follow-up assessment  Clears the perception of non-compliance  Provides NASA with the opportunity to view first-hand your process improvements  Good for your organization to have progress validated

SUMMARY Covey had it right when he said: Seek first to understand and then to be understood The benefits of compliance far outweigh the risks associated with an assessment Employee and management engagement in the assessment process builds an organization confident in their abilities and in their process controls Communication is Key

Contact Information We Are All In This Together How To Make The Most Of An Assessment By NASA Brenda K. Brunello Space Dynamics Laboratory 1695 North Research Park Way North Logan, UT