• The highest priority at this time is to get two more technicians (affirming a previous decision).  This is needed to get from zero to one shift per day on Station 1b, in practice, and maintain production through the summer vacation season.  All agree that we are staff-limited.
  

• After that, the next highest priority is probably to get still more staff assigned to NCSX coil winding, enough so we can get to two shifts per day on Station 1b, as needed.
  

• After that, what?
  

• A holding fixture ($15k) would allow us to process 4 ring-mounted coils simultaneously, shaving one month off the schedule, but still missing the desired November, 2007 completion date by a month. Moreover, the equivalent benefit could be realized by instead laying the coil down between VPI and post-VPI operations. The cost is removing the weights in order to attach the lifting bar to the ring, then re-installing the weights when we are reading to resume processing. The cost over the remaining coils might be about the same as buying a holding fixture, except spent on a pay-as-you-go basis.
  

• Wayne’s analysis shows that in order to meet the Nov., 2007 completion date,  a full 3rd winding station ($70K) will be required.  It will also likely be required if we need to speed up at the end to recover schedule, or to take advantage if EIO is able to speed up MCWF deliveries.  The risk is that we buy the 3rd station, but then don’t realize the financial benefit from it, either because the MCWFs don’t keep up, or because our efficiency goes down when we go from two to three winding stations.
  

• I expect that by October or November of this year we will want the third winding station. At this time, we have not identified a source of FY-06 funds to pay for it, but we should pursue that (Hutch, Ron).  In the meantime, we should not build any less capable fixturing that isn’t on a path to a full winding station.
  

• Other views?
  

Weekly meeting on MC winding cost and schedule, Monday, May 22 at 2:30 (special time), in my office.

• Shall we install an additional fixture?  (Wayne)
• Ongoing topics (Larry)  Report updates and any issues needing attention.
  
  • Cost trends
  • Schedule performance: Completion of coils through VPI prep.
  • Process improvement
  • Crew management issues (overtime, productivity, organization, shift work, charts, training, etc.)
    

Hutch