Supplementary memorandum from BAE Systems
Further to the hearing of 7 November 2006 I
would like to provide this written note to expand on the following
questions:
— Q17—"minimum number necessary
in each specialist area".
— Q31—"timeline for ourselves—our
resource plots".
To address Q17 first BAE Systems Submarines
is currently organised to support a 22 month interval between
each ASTUTE Class Submarine. This results in three submarines
in various stages of production at any one time. The 22 month
drumbeat has been agreed with MOD as the optimum interval to retain
key skills and to address the issue of affordability. Work has
taken place with trade unions to remove the last vestiges of demarcation
and promote flexibility. Significant opportunities have been taken
to outsource non specialist activities (eg laying electrical cables
in predetermined routes) and stringent `make v buy' analysis has
taken place to ensure that manning is at a minimum whilst maintaining
key skills. Further investigation has shown that even single digit
changes in manning levels can impair performance.
Retention of resource surplus to immediate requirements
is seen as both uneconomical and also unrealistic because of the
irreversible attrition of skilled and particularly experienced
personnel which would inevitably result. Skilled workers need
real and challenging work to retain their qualifications and expertise
in the design/build of such a complex product.
The current production headcount represents
the minimum requirement to support the 22 month drumbeat, and
the figures for Production and Engineering are as follows:
Production
| Skill |
Number |
| Steelworkers |
298 |
| Pipe Mechanical |
379 |
| Electrical |
174 |
| Sheet Metal Workers |
51 |
| Joiners |
17 |
| Painters |
21 |
| Ancillaries |
150 |
| Direct Support |
200 |
Production Support
| Skill | Number
|
| Weapons Systems Engineers | 60
|
| Test and Commissioning | 60
|
| Supervision/Management | 160
|
Engineering
| Skill |
Number
|
| Professional Engineers | 148
|
| Detail Designers | 220 |
| Technical Support | 60 |
Engineering Support
| Skill | Number
|
| Combat Systems Engineers | 150
|
| Systems Engineers | 140 |
| Nuclear Safety Engineers (Site and Submarine)
| 50 |
These skill sets can be further sub divided, and a detailed
breakdown for Steelworkers, Pipe Mechanical, Electrical, Professional
Engineers and Detail Designers is shown at Annex A.
It should also be noted that the retention of Nuclear Safety
Engineers is critical to the maintenance of the Nuclear Site Licence,
without which the construction of Nuclear Submarines is impossible.
In addition to this the following should be recognised:
Expansion from the minimum capability levels will be required
to support a potential Successor Programme, and there would be
a significant time delay before full operating capability and
efficiency was reached whilst personnel are recruited, trained
and gain experience.
Consideration should also be given to what work would be
available to maintain the skills and currency of these minimum
levels. Unless it is possible to secure challenging, relevant
work, it would be difficult to retain the workforce.
These figures were presented to MoD ASM IPT in August 2006
and have since been independently reviewed for the MoD. They are
a development of the analysis prepared for the Rand report "Sustaining
Design and Production Resource".
With regard to Q31, the graphs at Annex B show the minimum
level of Production and Engineering resource required to support
current contracts (Boats 1-3 of the ASTUTE Programme)
During the Select Committee hearing Mrs Linda Gilroy raised
an issue regarding why DML had not been included in the Key Supplier
Forum, a focus group of key contractors who's objective is to
pursue significant improvements in affordability, (led by BAE
Systems and which to date has been highly successful). Our reason
for not including them, although through-life cost issues are
covered by the inclusion of the Defence Logistics Organisation
representative, are that they do not procure a significant amount
of first fit items; however they are, and increasingly will be,
an active participant in our Lean Design studies for the Astute
Class which look not only into opportunities to reduce the UPC
(unit production costs) but also in particular to include considerations
of through-life maintenance and support into the design.
I trust this is helpful should you require any further information
please do not hesitate to contact.
Murray Easton
Managing Director, Submarines
30 November 2006
Annex A
STEELWORKER SKILL
SET BREAKDOWN
| Steelworkers | Welders
| Caulkers/Gougers | Other
|
| Reactor Lead/Poly Lining—3
Machine Specialists—13
Unit/Module Fabrication—21
(Qualified to Tack)
Pressure Hull Erectors—19
(Qualified to Tack)
Technically based Liner Offs/Dry Survey Specialists—6
Minor Fabrications—9
Outfit/Boat Steelworkers—27
Flank Array Trained and Qualified—7
Apprentices—17
| Cladding—8
A-grade—40
A-grade (sub-arc)—13
Specialist Stainless—7
A—grade Instructors—2
Service Welders—11
Apprentices—20
| Burners—2
Gougers—9
Dry Survey Grinders—5
Tank Testing Team—8
Apprentices—5
| Plumbers (Reactor lead/Poly fitting)—2
Joiners (Reactor lead/Poly fitting)—4
Ships Loft men (Mock ups, templates)—5
Drillers—all areas inc pressue hull and reactor—20
Apprentices—6
|
PIPE MECHANICAL
SKILL SET
BREAKDOWN
| Fitters | Pipeworkers
| Pipe Welders | Turners
|
| Test Team—17
Nuclear Facilities—build of primary plant—12
Plant Maintenance—16
SMITE—Gearbox/Main Engine build—11
SMITE—Testing—6
Boat Restricted Access—83
| Pipe Manufacture—40
Plant Maintenance—11
Nuclear Facilities—build of primary plant—12
SMITE—pipe installation—11
Pipe Installation—105
| Boat Restricted Welders—18
Nuclear Coded—12
PPS Specialist Welders—10
SMITE Restricted Welders—2
| DDH Machine Shop—16 |
ELECTRICIAN SKILLS
SET BREAKDOWN
| Electricians |
| Nuclear and Combat Systems Experience—44
Termination Specialists—36
Plant Maintenance and Production Services—32
Test ElectriciansServices and General Electricians—40
|
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
AND DETAIL
DESIGNERS SKILL
SET BREAKDOWN
| Minimum Engineering skills base:
| |
| Professional Engineers: |
|
| Electrical | 32
|
| Mechanical | 40
|
| Structures | 9
|
| Stress and Dynamics |
14 |
| Naval Architects | 7
|
| Signatures | 4
|
| Noise and Vibration |
8 |
| Radiation and Shielding |
4 |
| Metallurgists and Welding
| 10 |
| Safety | 5
|
| Weights | 3
|
| Engineering Management |
8 |
| Operability | 4
|
| Total | 148
|
| Detail Designers: |
|
| Electrical | 27
|
| Electrical Layout | 9
|
| Cable Management | 12
|
| Electrical Specialists |
7 |
| Electrical Management |
7 |
| HVAC | 6
|
| Mechanical Systems | 27
|
| Mechanical Integration |
11 |
| Mechanical Specialists |
7 |
| Mechanical Reactor | 5
|
| Mechanical Management |
7 |
| Hull Outfit | 11
|
| Hull Structure | 25
|
| Hull Mechanics | 8
|
| Hull Specialist | 6
|
| Hull Integration | 5
|
| Hull Management | 6
|
| Production Engineering |
6 |
| Minimum Engineering skills base:
| |
| Field Engineering (liaison with Operations)
| 6 |
| Standards | 13
|
| Bill of Materials
| 9 |
| Total | 220
|
Annex B
PRODUCTION RESOURCE
Graph showing production resource to support Boats of 1-3 of the ASTUTE class
Annex B
ENGINEERING RESOURCE
Graph showing engineering resource to support Boats 1-3 of
the ASTUTE Class
| 
