Supporting the fleet: taking workflow to the waterfront

Abstract

The need to improve work processes and the ability to respond quickly and accurately to the customer's needs are important considerations for organizations today. Port Hueneme Division-Naval Surface Warfare Center (PHD-NSWC) is implementing a centralized technical data management system as a means to track and review contractor data requirements lists and to manage the work involved in developing and supporting DoD weapon systems. This Thesis analyzes the need of the PHD-NSWC to implement automated workflow technology and evaluates methods for incorporating the customer, namely the fleet unit, into the workflow process. The study employs an in-depth review of publications on workflow to determine what workflow is; an analysis of workflow requirements at PHD through the use of interviews; and a review of both commercial and military wireless networking technologies to interconnect ships at sea as a basis for recommendations. This Thesis provides PHD-NSWC with three recommendations for connecting the fleet unit to PHD-NSWC. The first two using technologies available today while the third proposal is a recommendation for the future based on technology still in development. It also provides recommendations as to where the inclusion of the fleet would be most effective for improving the workflow of the processes discussed.