ELECTRIC BOAT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

Speaking at the Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum in Groton 

     October's EBMA meeting was held at the Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum in Groton on Wednesday October 28, 2009.  Pete Halvordson, EB’s Vice President of Engineering and Design, was the evening’s guest speaker.  Mr. Halvordson’s theme was “EB Means Everybody.” His focus was on the company’s workforce, the experience and talent EB employees bring to bear on the company’s business challenges.  He ended his remarks with a submarine trivia contest.  Correct responses were rewarded with donations to the charity of the responder’s choice. 

    The meeting began with a social hour featuring hot hors d’oeuvres, a carving station and prosciutto-wrapped melons and asparagus tips.  EBMA President, Joe Rossi brought the meeting to order noting that the association’s gavel was made from the Nautilus’ teak wood deck.  He welcomed members, guests and retirees and previewed upcoming EBMA-sponsored events including the adult and kids’ holiday parties (Dec. 12th & 20th), and the November corporate night dinner meeting.  An Emotional Intelligence seminar, he said, will be offered November 2nd.  He urged anyone interested in helping out at any EBMA event to contact the EBMA office.  [Details of all future events can be found on the EBMA web site.] 

     Next, he thanked Judy Bogue for coordinating the evening’s festivities and recognized Rich Clippinger and Dave Sabala for their continued efforts on behalf of the association.  He then led the Pledge of Allegiance and introduced the guest speaker, Pete Halvordson.  Pete had suggested trying a different format this evening, he said.  As a result, Yankee fans should be able to get home before the first pitch. 

    Pete welcomed the crowd and thanked members for coming.  He described his prepared remarks as a Q&A opportunity without the questions.  I know many of the questions on people’s minds, he said, so I’m going to answer them before they’re asked.  He began by characterizing EB as “more than just a place we call work.”  I’ve conducted research as to why that is, he said, gathered observations, and put the pieces together.  We’re here this evening reconnecting with our past, he said.  There’s a buzz in the air.  The museum is full of EB artifacts, evidence of what we do; our collected body of work.  We’re at home here.  Today EB shapes its products using lean principles and enhances processes with Six Sigma techniques.  We’re way ahead of most industries in that regard, he said, but the fact remains that the Nautilus, made the VIRGINA possible.

     He noted that EB employees share and build upon their knowledge.  They’ve leveraged their experience, he said, to build follow-on hulls in half the time with half as many man-hours.  Experience is a key factor. “Any EB employee with less than 15 years is still a rookie, he said.  “Joe Chontos just celebrated his 10th anniversary at EB but we still refer to him as the new guy.”  It’s generally accepted that it takes 10 years to develop expertise in a field.  Sixty-four percent of our employees have more than 20 years experience.  Expertise is one of our shared values.

     EB technology travels well.  Folks in Spain, he noted, are using EB’s permanent magnet motor technology to build the world’s largest power generating windmill.  Good things happen as a direct result of EB employees’ efforts, he said.  But it’s not flags, signage or structures that make EB’s capability world class, it’s the people.  We all benefit from an optimally organized culture built on a set of values that are every bit as unique and recognizable as Toyota’s legendary Quality System, he said.  EB’s culture is equally significant to the one which built lean principles into its production lines.  Our attention to detail is captured in 130 Quality documents, 250 Standard procedures and more than 600 Department Instructions.  It’s our tribal knowledge, a recognizable set of inner values that act as motivators.  We’re a culture based on values with recognizable heroes, rites and a cultural network.  Our values determine how we react to conditions we face.

     The foundation of EB’s culture is trust, credibility and personal accountability, he said.  It’s based on integrity and principles.  Our employees tend to stay here; we’re not a transient workforce.  Our workers are people oriented; they coach local kids after work.  Mike Toner was to “people” what John Casey’s been to “Continuous Improvement.”  We have “Rites” which we call “Critiques’ where we tirelessly search for answers. We take the high road and look for problems.  We have independent audits, PODs, and breakfast clubs.  That’s how our culture spreads, how it endures.  Shared events have shaped us, prepared us to do what’s required to sustain continued success, he said.  We even have heroes who exemplify our values; Rickover’s ghost walks amongst us.  We have folks like RC Miller, George Pina, and Tom Haggerty.  Their stories are part of our culture. 

   None of us come to EB equipped with this set of values, he said, we learn them here.  Some folks come here thinking “5-years, a Masters Degree and I’m done,” yet they end-up staying 30 years more.  EB’s culture must be preserved, as a employees our work is not done.  The story of the events that shaped us must be spread more widely, he said, our culture of shared values must be passed along.  At EB, he noted, we may not be perfect but our products most certainly are.  He thanked everyone for coming once more and put down the microphone.

      The members gave Mr. Halvordson a warm round of applause.  Joe noted that a donation was made to the Submarine Force Library and Museum Association in his name.  Then, after a motion to adjourn was made and seconded, members headed out to the parking lot, past the shadow of the Nautilus, tied securely to its dock.  A living testament to the culture recently described by Pete’s remarks.

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