7 | 5 | 2022
A weekly publication of Newport News Shipbuilding
Photo by Ashley Cowan
Machine Boosts Safety and Efficiency A five-axis mill turn machine in the Machine Shop has transformed the way shipbuilders manufacture torpedo tubes for U.S. Navy submarines at Newport News Shipbuilding. The technology has made the work safer and more efficient.
the transition in seconds.
“It allows us to do things a lot faster,” said M53 Foreman Joseph Carnes as John Miles (M53) operated the machine. That translates to an overall time savings of more than 30%, according to General Foreman Phillip Lamb.
The new mill turn machine was installed late last year. Although the operations in the machine are run by a shipbuilder right now, it will eventually be able to automate this work, according to programmers Kyle Day and Robert Kaminsky. A shipbuilder will be able to put the job in the machine, start the program and walk away. It will run until that operation is complete.
Operating in an enclosed environment, the machine eliminates much of the “human interaction” in the process and more than 80% of crane lifts compared to the old way torpedo tubes were manufactured. The older machine required crane lifts to transition between work on one end of the torpedo tube or the other. Depending on the crane schedule, those lifts could take hours to complete. Now, shipbuilders can program the new machine to make
Reducing crane lifts and manual work also reduces the risk of injury to shipbuilders.
Carnes said the machine is a necessity as the shipyard’s workload increases. “This is the future,” he said. “This is the way we are going to keep up with the amount of work we have.”
COVID-19 CAG Disbands Newport News Shipbuilding is evaluating its COVID-19 response as the virus continues to weaken, with positive cases becoming less prevalent and symptoms less severe. As a result, the COVID-19 Crisis Action Group (CAG) has disbanded and transitioned its responsibilities to a COVID-19 Council. Operating similar to NNS’ Heat Stress Council, the COVID-19
Council will continue to monitor the virus’ impact on the shipyard and the community, and respond accordingly based on predetermined evaluation criteria and action items that align with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. The council comprises representatives from Programs, Communications, Environmental Health and Safety, the Clinic, Facilities, Legal, Human Resources and Labor
Relations. Director of Environmental Health and Safety Yesika Kain leads the council’s efforts. Shipbuilders may continue referencing NNS’ communications platforms for shipyard updates related to COVID-19. For additional information about the virus’ impacts in our community and to stay up to date on CDC recommendations, please visit the CDC COVID data tracker.