June 28, 2018 – Just Ten Minutes

You are currently viewing June 28, 2018 – Just Ten Minutes

Dave McCall, Director of Test
June 28, 2018

Other than the upcoming alpha sea trials on the South Dakota (SSN 790), this is my favorite time in a ship’s construction.  We are at the point where we as shipbuilders put a bow on our product, the Navy accepts her for in-service, and she is married to her crew.  The staging is gone, the VPT house is off, and the South Dakota looks like a warship.

But the other thing that makes this one of my favorite periods in ship construction is observing how the waterfront team rallies for the end game.  There is no problem that can’t be fixed “today,” material that can’t be “found,” or an individual shipbuilder not willing to give the extra time and effort required to make it happen.  Why is this?  It’s leadership up and down the hierarchy of the waterfront team.  And what does it take to achieve this level of leadership in the end game?  Ten minutes.

It is the ten extra minutes spent at turnover making sure everyone understands what’s being passed between shifts and what’s expected to be accomplished on the back shifts.

It is the ten extra minutes the first-line supervisor spends with his crew making sure they understand the jobs they are being assigned, and that they have all the correct material, paper and tooling to succeed.

It is the ten extra minutes the deck-plate shipbuilder spends providing feedback to his foreman, sharing his experience and making sure he understands the scope of his assignment.

It is the ten extra minutes Engineering spends with the shipbuilder to understand the problem so that the deck plates get the correct direction quickly.

It is the ten extra minutes spent to make sure the job gets done.

And finally, it is the ten extra minutes the team spends planning to make sure the chosen path ahead is the most efficient and that team buy in is achieved.

This is how Electric Boat Shipbuilders deliver ships.  But what if we did this every day, not just in the end game?  How many weeks could we take out of our schedules?  How many critical jobs could go from seven days a week to five?  And most importantly, how quickly can we get the warships to the Navy that the nation needs?  The difference between average and exceptional leadership is only ten minutes.  We are not average shipbuilders, we are the best in the world—we can afford the ten extra minutes to be even better.

Pathways to the Deep Officially Opens at Mystic Aquarium

On Monday, May 11th, we officially cut the ribbon on Pathways to the Deep, a brand-new interactive exhibit at Mystic Aquarium that connects ocean science, technology, exploration and careers through hands-on learning and discovery. This collaborative effort between General Dynamics Electric Boat, Mystic Aquarium, the Submarine Industrial Base and Build Submarines was created to spark curiosity and...Continue reading→

Electric Boat featured in ADC’s ‘Homefront’ Video Series

General Dynamics Electric Boat is featured in the latest episode of the Association of Defense Communities’ (ADC) Homefront video series, which examines military communities across the country.  The episode highlights Electric Boat’s long-standing partnership with the U.S. Navy, the generations of shipbuilders who power our mission and the opportunities ahead for the next wave of...Continue reading→

Rayha Report Ep. 19: Operations Leadership Hiring Initiative

In his latest Rayha Report, EB President Mark Rayha speaks with Chief of Talent Acquisition Meredith Kyle on the ways the company is boosting operations leadership hiring. Joining them is Konrad Wennberg and Mike Simmons, who provide insight on their internal moves from engineering to operations supervisor positions.​

Lauren Knapp Honored with Victoria Soto Memorial Award

We are proud to celebrate Lauren Knapp for being named a recipient of the prestigious Victoria Soto Memorial Award, presented by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut. This recognition highlights Lauren’s exceptional commitment to mentorship, community engagement and making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people. The Victoria Soto Memorial Award honors individuals...Continue reading→

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for New Warehouse in North Stonington

Electric Boat broke ground Wednesda​​y on a new warehouse that will support shipbuilding operations in Groton and Quonset Point. The 480,000‑square‑foot facility, located at 45 Frontage Road in North Stonington, will streamline how material moves across different work sites. Electric Boat purchased​​ the 55‑acre property from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in 2025. The project...Continue reading→

Lessons From the Loss of USS Thresher (SSN 593) on April 10, 1963

​Photo by EB Employee Patrick “Pat” M. McCarthy, Principal Program Representative, Quality (D421). Electric Boat Shipbuilders, On the morning of April 10,1963, USS Thresher began her deep dive in 8,400 feet of water 220 miles off Cape Cod. During the dive, an unexpected message was received by USS Skylark, her escort ship: “Experiencing minor difficulties,...Continue reading→

Rayha Report Ep. 18: CT and RI Legislative Briefings

EB President Mark Rayha delivered Legislative Briefings to congressional delegations and local leaders in Connecticut and Rhode Island on Monday, March 23. See the latest installment of the Rayha Report for a recap of the events. ​​