[Satellite News – 5-23-08] Khrunichev Space Center and International Launch Services (ILS) have initiated a quality initiative for Khrunichev and its subcontractors to assure future Proton customers that their satellites will reach orbit.

    “Both Khrunichev and ILS realized that steps needed to be taken. The Khrunichev quality initiative is intended to restore customer confidence that Proton is a reliable product for the long run,” said McKenna.
    “We are putting in place a comprehensive program which is viewed as part of [Khrunichev’s] strategy going forward,” said Nesterov. “We consider the quality initiative yet another step towards solidifying our role as a leading space company. Our quality initiative is not an ad-hoc measure. While we are taking these steps, the Khrunichev Center has always made it a priority to concentrate on processes to ensure quality and guaranteed performance of contractual obligations.”
    The two launch executives spoke with Satellite News via e-mail to discuss the quality initiative and the future for the Proton rocket.

 
Vladimir Nesterov, General Director, Khrunichev (Left);

Frank McKenna, President, ILS (Right)

Satellite News: How will the initiative help prevent other failures?

McKenna: The plan is to look at the total picture — the management, production and design systems and processes in all the suppliers. Then these systems and processes would be unified into a single set of standards, forming the company-wide quality management system. 

Nesterov: As you may know, since February of last year four of the industry’s leading space entities were merged with the Khrunichev Center. In its new configuration, [Khrunichev] now controls the fabrication of the most important and critical elements of Proton production — more than 65 percent. We are implementing common standards throughout the supplier chain thereby creating a unified quality management system to be complied with across the board at the center. I am confident that all these efforts will lead to more robust reliability.

Satellite News: What are the specifics behind the new initiative?

McKenna: In a nutshell, the quality initiative is intended to take substantive actions to improve the quality and reliability of the Proton system as well as improve the information flow to customers and the insurance community.
    The press release outlined the top-level elements of the plan. A detailed implementation plan, with milestones and timelines, has been developed. Khrunichev is responsible for implementing the manufacturing aspects, and ILS is responsible for providing better visibility for customers and insurers via more frequent and comprehensive quality reporting.

Nesterov: The policy stresses continual improvement of Proton’s quality and reliability indicators based on customer satisfaction and — as far as possible — visibility to the customer and insurance communities.
    In the new corporate configuration of [Khrunichev], it is essential to ensure effective communications within the organization, above all, on such matters as readiness of the launch vehicle elements and components for tests, test results and their analyses, expanded supplier audits, new design and manufacturing process solutions, and enhanced methods of their verification, increased motivation for quality, etc. The program is built with due regard for the input from the constituent branches. It envisages an upgrading of production and quality inspection processes, methods and means throughout the fabrication [and] testing cycle.

Satellite News: How will the position of deputy director general responsible for quality control and management aid this plan?

Nesterov: A new position has been created, that of a dedicated deputy to the general director with responsibilities in the [quality assurance] area. The new [quality assurance] system makeup includes the [Quality Assurance] Department that used to be functionally all-inclusive and the newly established departments of metrology and technical inspection. The new [quality assurance] system is supervised and managed by a team of specialists, each having considerable experience in the field. This renewed effort will enhance professionalism and cut response time in matters of [quality assurance]. The efforts will encompass all phases of the product life cycle.

Satellite News: The press release mentions recertification of the quality management system. Had this certification lapsed, and if so, why?

Nesterov: The Khrunichev quality management system which is currently in effect has been certified not only for conformance to national quality standards applicable to rocketry and other space technology but also to ISO 9001-2000. Such conformance is annually confirmed by independent audits performed by the Federal Space Agency and Military Register of the [Ministry of Defence]. We will see how our system complies with the requirements of the American AS-9100, or EN-9100, its European counterpart, and Khrunichev will address this by having an independent audit using a Russian expert organization.

Satellite News: How quickly do you expect to see improvements in the performance at the center?

McKenna: There are interim and long-term steps to be taken, integrated with the corrective actions that are being taken as a result of the AMC-14 investigation. The process is well under way, and we expect the interim measures to be implemented in June in conjunction with our return-to-flight activities.
 
Nesterov: An ongoing process which will be continually updated based on actual accomplishment of programmatic goals.