CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT SHOP FOREMAN

The foreman of the construction and specialized equipment shop supervises the machine shop as a subcenter. The responsibilities are basically the same as those given under the maintenance and repair foreman, except for the technical supervision. This shop is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and major overhaul (mechanical and electrical) of specialized equipment, such as tractors, graders, ditchdiggers, bulldozers, road rollers, asphalt machines, farm tractors, jet starters, auxiliary power units, emergency generators, pumps, and aircraft tow-tractors.

The machine shop bores cylinders; rebuilds all types of gasoline and diesel engines, automatic transmissions, and differentials; and performs other related repairs.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

The most important phase of the maintenance system is scheduled periodic preventive main- tenance (PM). PM is the systematic inspection, detection, and correction of potential equipment failures before they develop into major defects. The purpose of PM is to keep equipment in safe and reliable condition with maximum equipment availability and minimum cost of maintenance.

OPERATOR MAINTENANCE

Operators are the first line of defense against equipment wear, failure, and damage. Equipment must be inspected by the operator daily - before, during, and after operations - so that defects or malfunctions can be detected before they result in serious damage, failure, or accident.

It is your responsibility, as a CM1, to see that the operators are performing their duties. You should work with the operations branch in making recommendations regarding operator PM. Changes may be necessary in the operator PM to cope with certain operating conditions. You may need to set up classes of instruction for the operators so that they will become familiar with the right way to maintain their equipment, especially when new equipment is received in the activity. If you do set up classes, be sure to coordinate your training periods with the foreman in charge of the equipment operations branch so obtain complete cost data on maintenance and that you do not interfere with the foreman's equipment operating schedules. Also, try to have the equipment on hand so you can point out maintenance services that need attention. It is better to hold the instructions with small groups and to keep them as informal as possible. Do not forget to stress operator maintenance on the overall operating efficiency of the equipment.

SERVICE STATION MAINTENANCE

Service station maintenance is the service you would expect from any first-rate filling station when you purchase fuel; namely, washing the windshield and checking the oil, battery and radiator water, fan belt, tire condition, and so forth. Unfortunately, shortages of personnel have sometimes curtailed this type of maintenance. Service station maintenance is a visible area of public works but is not intended to relieve the operators of their responsibility.

SAFETY INSPECTIONS

Vehicles will be inspected periodically by qualified automotive inspection personnel for safety as follows:

Each motor vehicle will be inspected for safety at intervals not to exceed 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first. To avoid unnecessary downtime, perform the safety inspection at the time of the scheduled serviceability inspection according to the manufacturer's recommendation.

All deficiencies uncovered during the safety inspection that affect the safe operation of the vehicle will be corrected before the vehicle becomes operational again.

UNSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SERVICE

Unscheduled maintenance service is the correction of deficiencies reported by the vehicle operator that occur between scheduled safety or other inspection and services prescribed by the manufacturer. Unscheduled maintenance services will be limited to correcting only those items reported as deficient by the operator and confirmed by qualified inspection personnel. Unreported deficiencies observed by the inspector at an unscheduled service and, in particular, those affecting safety are to be corrected before the vehicle is released for service.

COST CONTROL

The Navy's cost control system is designed to operation of automotive, construction, fire fighting, railway, weight-handling, and materials-handling