NASA Workmanship Standards Technical Committee Area of responsibility

NASA Workmanship Standards Technical Committee Area of responsibility: Manufacturing Processes for, and Acceptance of, Flight Hardware Chairperson: Michael Delmont/GSFC/306 February 23, 2001

Structure & Charter n The NASA Workmanship Standards Technical Committee(WSTC) comprises members from all NASA Centers, NASA HQ, and ESA. – Communicates via monthly teleconferences and semiannual tabletop meetings. n Protect the reliability of space flight hardware by providing projects with manufacturing standards appropriate for the hardware’s expected operating environment. February 23, 2001 2

Processes n Per OMB Circular A-119, priority is given to identifying Voluntary Consensus Standards (VCS) to provide Agency projects with the appropriate standard(s). – If found, obtain membership on the relevant committee to represent NASA’s interests. – If not found, solicit the appropriate VCS organization to see if they’re willing to initiate a VCS for the discipline (again, with WSTC participation on the committee). – If they’re unwilling or unable, begin process of writing a NASA Technical Standard. February 23, 2001 3

Coordination n Ultimate goal is to find VCS’s that suit all Centers’ needs unconditionally; second choice is to supplement a VCS that’s close; final option is to generate a NASA Technical Standard (NTS). – Each Center has their expert on the relevant technology review the VCS and submit comments. – Each comment is discussed and dispositioned during monthly telecon or semi-annual tabletop meetings. – Based on resolution of comments, the VCS is adopted unconditionally, or a supplement (or NTS) is drafted. February 23, 2001 4

Coordination (cont’d) n The process for generating a VCS supplement or NTS is similar to the initial review process for a VCS. – Draft is prepared internally and distributed to WSTC for review & comment. – This is repeated until all comments are dispositioned to the satisfaction of the submitter(s) and the WSTC. n Adoption, whether a VCS, VCS supplement, or NTS is approved by the HQ Code Q Associate Administrator based on recommendation from WSTC Chairperson. – NASA Preferred Technical Standards web site updated based on adoption notice from HQ/Code Q/AA. February 23, 2001 5