My First Two Weeks at BIW

[Post by Chuck Krugh, June 24, 2022]

I wanted to start this new forum so that I have a way to communicate with our team since not everyone has a company email address. It’s important to me that we have a way to communicate timely on topics that arise and to let you know more about the good things that I see when I’m walking around our facilities.

My first two weeks here at BIW have been hectic to say the least—22 all hands meetings, the christening of DDG 122, meeting with the Navy and starting to get to know my new team—which is all of you. I am enjoying getting to know everyone as well as learning about shipbuilding. I appreciate your welcome to me!

I have seen some amazing things in my short time here: our ability to manufacture and machine parts that weigh in excess of 14 tons, to weld critical items in extremely cramped spaces, to fit thick steel plates together, to install piping on top of piping, to run cables almost the size of your fist and, of course, the translation of DDG 122 from the land to the water. That’s just a few of the impressive things we do at BIW—very impressive!

While we make an awesome ship, during our meeting with the Navy last Friday, serious discussions took place. They are not too happy with our schedule performance. As I think you all know, we need to start clawing back schedule in order to get our ships to the Navy so they, in turn, can do what they need to do—protect our country! It will not be an overnight process, but we must start today.

As I said in my all hands meeting with you, each decision you make will determine how well the company does and how much schedule we recover each day, week, month and year. Rework is the nemesis that we need to stop. Reducing rework helps us build more efficiently, making production more streamlined and easier for everyone. It’s a journey of a series of decisions that you make at the point of execution.

I thought it would be good to reiterate my expectations—what you can expect from me and what I expect from you. So, here is what you can expect from me:

  1. A straight answer based on the facts.
  2. Consistent, fair and equitable decisions.
  3. If I can tell you something, I’ll tell you.
  4. Asking a lot of questions to understand.
  5. Challenging the way we do things.
  6. Being on the deck plates.
  7. Expecting to build cooperative relationships with the unions.

And again, the expectations that I have for you:

  1. Work Safe.
  2. Do it right the first time.
  3. Meet your schedule commitments.
  4. Have integrity.
  5. Be an active participant in making our company stronger for the future.

We can talk some more when I see you on the deck plates!

Chuck
President, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works

Click here to view more From the Helm blog posts.