QUALITY ASSURANCE Basically, 2M QA is preventing the occurrence of defects.  QA  covers  all  events  from  the  start  of  a maintenance  action  to  its  completion  and  is  the responsibility  of  all  maintenance  personnel.  For additional discussion on this topic, refer to the chapter on quality assurance in this manual. To  this  point  we  have  discussed  the  areas  of maintenance  with  which  you  will  be  especially concerned as an ETl or ETC. Keep in mind that as your career  progresses,  you  will  be  more  and  more  involved with the “big picture.” Now let’s discuss another area of concern to you as you  move  up  into  areas  of  more  responsibilities: supply. SUPPLY PROCEDURES You  have  probably  already  had  many  dealings with supply matters; but as you advance to ET1 and ETC,  your  dealings  with  supply  will  become  more frequent.   Your   careful   concern   will   be   required. You   will   become   more   involved   with   supply support  problems,  such  as–Why  is  the  part requisitioned   not   onboard?–Is   the   equipment supported   by   COSAL?–and   so   on.   As   a   senior technician,   your   understanding   of   supply procedures  and  the  system  will  benefit  you  and, ultimately,   will   be   an   asset   to   your   division’s maintenance   accomplishments. If  your  ship’s  COSAL  is  not  up-to-date,  your ship’s supply support will be inadequate; and when you requisition repair parts, you will often encounter NIS   (not   in   stock)   or   NC   (not   carried)   items. Therefore,  you  must  understand  how  the  COSAL “system”  operates,  so  you  can  have  repair  parts  on board  that  are  justifiable  and  allowable  for  actual equipments on board. Your knowledge of the COSAL and your careful coordination with supply will help the   supply   department   maintain   an   up-to-date COSAL,  which  in  turn  will  allow  your  shop  to accomplish efficient equipment repairs. At this point go to supply and ask to use the COSAL Use  and  Maintenance  Manual,  SPCCINST   4441.170, Read chapters 1 through 4; chapter 5, through section C; and chapter 7, sections B, D, and E. Then return to this manual. Now that you have completed reading the  COSAL Use  and  Maintenance  Manual,  you  should  have  a basic understanding of how the COSAL is organized and maintained, and how it can help you in your role as  a  supervisor.  Remember  to  refer  to  this  manual whenever  you  train  your  technicians  in  supply procedures. SUPPLY AND YOUR MAINTENANCE DIVISION The following paragraphs are based on a senior technician’s  thoughts  toward  supply.  To  best  use  your supply system, keep these thoughts in mind: Take great care in selecting your supply petty officer.  Choose  someone  whom  you  believe will  be  accountable  and  will  keep  good records;  someone  who  will  ask  for  guidance from  you  or  your  supply  department  should he   or   she   run   into   any   supply-related troubles.  This  individual  should  not  be someone who has just checked on board from A   school,   but   someone   who   has   some experience  in  the  rating. Know  how  the  supply  system  operates  and understand the COSAL, at least as it applies to your electronics maintenance actions. Use the supply system as it is set up and designed to  function. Stay away from bulk ordering of parts, because one order of 20 of an item has the same supply “hit rate” as one order of 1 of that same item. One of supply’s bases for stocking an item is the number of “hits” (orders) within a certain time  frame.  To  ensure  that  supply  maintains  a sufficient stock of the parts you need, order a few parts several times rather than many parts a  few  times. At least three months before deployment, assist the  EMO  with  a  listing  of  parts  (with  stock numbers) that you know or feel will be used or needed  to  support  your  systems  and  equipments. This list of parts will be checked with supply to 8-7