ENABLE OUR WORKFORCE

The first component of the NNSFORWARD Strategy focuses on people. The heartbeat of Newport News Shipbuilding, our shipbuilders’ dedication, commitment and strong work ethic define our business. Enable Our Workforce commits to providing an environment that inspires these attributes and shows we care for our shipbuilders, their development and overall well-being.

Last year, NNS leadership committed to three priorities that Enable Our Workforce, including innovative hiring and retention practices; accelerating craft, foreman and construction supervisor time to proficiency; and providing leadership opportunities to strengthen management skills.

NNS conducted more than 440 recruitment events and filled 5,654 positions in 2022, despite a challenging labor market. To help retain employees, Human Resources introduced a stay survey that gave all employees a voice in NNS’ efforts to create an inspiring work environment. Actions underway include targeted salary adjustments to be more competitive with market demands, and creating more growth and development opportunities.

We also enabled our workforce by:

• Providing custom training for targeted populations among our current workforce that has resulted in an average 30% increase in craft proficiency.

• Launching the Advanced Development Program, which focuses on building networks, developing a broader understanding of the business, strategic thinking and growing personal leadership capacity.

• Deploying the Deckplate Leadership Development Program to new foremen and construction supervisors and those with less than two years of experience to ensure fundamental competencies necessary to successfully lead.

• Launching ANCHORS, a new hire employee resource group (ERG) to enhance the new employee experience through connections, personal development and growth, and building strong business and professional networks across the enterprise. The ERG is designed for employees who have been with the company for less than five years.

The second component of the NNSFORWARD Strategy concentrates on business transformation. The priority for 2022 was deployment of an operating structure using phase management to improve execution and schedule predictability.

As NNS has evolved over the last century, our work – and our approach to getting the work done – has become increasingly complex. The newly implemented Construction Operating System (COS) standardizes work instructions and breaks down work into three-month sprints, helping leaders track progress so issues are identified and addressed sooner.

The COS is leading throughput improvement for the Virginia -Class Submarine Program. Completion of work packages has increased by about 25% on Block IV submarines since May 2022.