Page 3 - SRNS_Today_July_2021

JULY 2021 | SRNS TODAY | 3

Supply Chain reduces items

in discrepant conditions

SRNS Quality Assurance (QA) Receipt Inspectors (from left) Glen Martin and Doug Walp,
assisted by QA Engineer Grant Kirkendohl (right), work together to ensure a part meets
all Safety Class and Safety Significant regulations and standards.

he SRNS Receiving Inspection (RI) organization has achieved a Material Acquisition Engineering, including field and QA engineers from
major milestone towards revitalizing and further improving the across the Site.”
T management of purchased items that did not pass inspection Kirkendohl believes a large part of this success story can be
and resulted in a discrepant condition (DC).
attributed to improved procedures and systems, good communication
RI recently closed out the last item on the DC list that exceeded 180 practices and developing relationships with SRNS suppliers. With
days. Two years ago, that list included 114 items more than 180 many process improvements in place and extensive hard work, today
days old. the list has only 38 open DCs, all less than 124 days.
“When purchased items fail during inspection, it is very important that According to Supply Chain QA Manager Joe Fulghum, this type of
the issues with the failed items are resolved in a timely manner. Quick teamwork played a major role in reducing the amount of time it takes
resolution ensures that facilities across the Site receive the items as to resolve an item on DC status.
ordered without negative impact to operation or project schedules. “It is vital to receive a resolution path from the requisitioning
Additionally, the longer items are in DC status, the more expensive they organization (QA and Engineering), and support from the buyer, and
are to resolve,” said Will Leschak, SRNS RI Manager. “Examples would to maintain a strong relationship with suppliers. The role of RI is to
include being unable to return items, higher return fees, issuance of give prompt notification of the failed inspection and then coordinate
non-conformance reports, consumption of vital storage space, and that resolution path such that items are processed through RI. It
additional efforts expended to track and trend these items.”
is rewarding to see the vast improvements in RI, from software
When Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer Grant Kirkendohl took over the enhancements to more efficient item workflow management and, of
duties of the SRNS DC Coordinator, the Supply Chain Management QA course, quicker DC resolutions,” said Fulghum.
Team had established improvement initiatives that were well underway. “Safety and security are our highest priorities here at SRS,” added
“Even though I had seen the DC count drop significantly, from as high Kirkendohl. “We’re going to ensure the integrity and quality of each
as 450 items in 2017, there still seemed to be a mountain of DCs that and every Safety Class and Safety Significant item, confirming all
needed to be investigated and resolved,” said Kirkendohl. “Fortunately, are in compliance with industry and U.S. Government regulations
we had fantastic support from Site Supply Chain Management and and standards.”