Brenda K. BrunelloQuality Manager

November 14, 2007

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHERHow 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 Assessmentso Time Consuming

o Preparation Prioro Assessment Itselfo Follow-up Afterward

o Not viewed as value add by... o Costlyo Riskyo 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. BrunelloSpace Dynamics Laboratory

1695 North Research Park WayNorth Logan, UT 84341

435-797-4327brenda.brunello@sdl.usu.edu