defects or flaws, explain what is wrong, why it is wrong,
1. Size up each job before you let anyone start
and how to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
working on it. Check the applicable Maintenance
Requirement Cards (MRCs) so that you will know
ESTIMATING WORK
exactly what needs to be done. Also, check all
applicable drawings and manufacturer's technical
manuals.
Often, you'll be required to estimate the amount of
time, the number of personnel, and the amount of
2. Check on materials before you start. Be sure
material required for specific repair jobs. Actually, you
that all required materials are available before your
are making some kind of estimate every time you plan
personnel start working on any job. Do not overlook
and start a repair job as you consider such questions as
small items--nuts, bolts, washers, packing and gasket
the following:
materials, tools, measuring devices, and so forth. A
How long will it take?
good deal of labor can be saved by making sure that
materials are available before beginning the job. An
Who can best do the job?
inoperable piece of machinery may be useless, but it can
How many people will be needed?
become a nuisance and a safety hazard if it is spread
around the engine room in bits and pieces while you wait
Are all necessary materials available?
for the arrival of repair parts or materials.
However, there is one important difference between
3. Check the priority of the job and that of all other
the estimates you make for your own use and those that
work that needs to be done.
you make when your division officer asks for estimates.
4. When assigning work, carefully consider the
When you give an estimate to someone in authority over
capabilities and experience of your personnel. As a rule,
you, you cannot tell how far up the line this information
will go. It's possible that an estimate you give to your
the more complicated jobs should be given to the more
division officer could ultimately affect the operational
skilled and more experienced people. However, when
schedule of the ship; therefore, it's essential that such
possible, less experienced people should be given
estimates be as accurate as you can possibly make them.
difficult work to do under supervision so that they may
acquire skill in such jobs.
Many of the factors that apply to scheduling all
maintenance and repair work apply also to estimating
Be sure that the person who is going to do a job is
the time that will be required for a particular repair job.
given as much information as necessary. An
You cannot make a reasonable estimate until you have
experienced person may need only a drawing and a
sized up the job, checked on the availability of materials,
general statement concerning the nature of the job. A
checked on the availability of skilled personnel, and
less experienced person is likely to require additional
checked on the priority of the various jobs for which you
instructions and, as a rule, closer supervision.
are responsible. To make an accurate estimate of the
5. Keep track of the work as it is being done. In
time required to complete a specific repair job, you must
particular, check to be sure that proper materials and
also consider what part of the work must be done by
parts are being used, that the job is properly laid out or
other shops and what kinds of interruptions and delays
set up, that all tools and equipment are being used
that may occur. Although these factors are also
correctly, and that all safety precautions are being
important in the routine scheduling of maintenance and
observed.
repair work, they are particularly important when
estimates of time may affect the operational schedule of
6. After a job has been completed, make a careful
the ship.
inspection to be sure that everything has been done
correctly and that all final details have been taken care
If part of the job must be done by other shops, you
of. Check to be sure that all necessary records and
must consider not only the time actually required by
reports have been prepared. These job inspections serve
these shops but also time that may be lost if one of them
at least two important purposes--first, they are needed
holds up your work and the time spent to transport the
to make sure that the work has been properly performed;
material between shops. Each shop should make a
and second, they provide for an evaluation of the skills
separate estimate, and the estimates should be combined
and knowledge of the person who has done the work.
to obtain the final estimate. Don't attempt to estimate
the time required by other personnel. Attempting to
Don't overlook the training aspects of a job inspection.
estimate what someone else can do is risky because you
When your inspection of a completed job reveals any
13-22
