'Right' defense contracts needed to support critical skill retention at Watervliet

By John B. SnyderJuly 30, 2014

'Right' defense contracts needed to support critical skill retention at Watervliet
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – When the Watervliet Arsenal, N.Y., was established in 1813, it was used to provide equipment to U.S. Soldiers during the War of 1812. Today, the arsenal provides equipment such as these two tank cannon barrels that are awaiting the next machining ope... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Right' defense contracts needed to support critical skill retention at Watervliet
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Right' defense contracts needed to support critical skill retention at Watervliet
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Bench assembler Vincent Gregorek works on an elevating mechanism for a 81mm mortar system at the Watervliet Arsenal, N.Y. Although spare parts provide the arsenal a substantial amount of work, that type of work does not exercise all of the arsenal's... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Right' defense contracts needed to support critical skill retention at Watervliet
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. (July 30, 2014) -- In an era of declining defense budgets, the Watervliet Arsenal needs contracts to produce more than just revenue. It needs the "right kind" of contracts to retain a critical skill base that is required to support large caliber manufacturing for the Defense Department and to allied militaries.

And so, when the arsenal announced this week that it had received 11 contracts this month worth more than $9.4 million, that news was met with controlled optimism. The contracts will provide the U.S. Army with spare parts for its 155mm howitzer and 81mm mortar systems, as well as for some limited work for the Naval Surface Warfare Center's 105mm cannon system.

"These contracts mean more to us than just money," said Jake Peart, the arsenal's chief of production planning and control. "In an era of declining defense weapons requirements, we view these contracts as a means to our retaining a critical skill base that will provide our warfighters with the best weapon systems in the world."

Given the continued uncertainty today with the defense budget, weapons program managers have been very cautious in soliciting new work and so, every new contract, no matter how small, is celebrated as a major achievement, Peart said.

Although these contracts will provide more than 21,000 hours of direct labor requirements, as well as hundreds of hours of indirect labor support, they still do not exercise all critical manufacturing skills the arsenal is trying to retain, Peart added.

"The importance of retaining our critical skill base cannot be overstated as each specialized manufacturing skill is essential to ensuring the long-term viability of the arsenal," Peart said.

The arsenal maintains 11 critical capabilities and/or skill sets that are required for the manufacturing of large caliber weapon systems. The manufacturing of tank and howitzer cannons exercises all 11 skills sets, that range from complex machining to rotary forging, while manufacturing spare parts and mortar tubes uses no more than seven of the 11 critical skills.

The arsenal's value to the Army is increased by the retention of these critical manufacturing skills that today cannot be replicated at any other government-owned and -operated facility.

So, although these orders are good news for Watervliet, they still fall short in retaining all the critical skills necessary to support the arsenal's core mission of providing large caliber manufacturing for the Defense Department. There is certainly more hard work to do this summer for the business development team at Watervliet in search of larger, more demanding orders.

The 11 orders range from the manufacturing of something as small that can fit into a pants pocket, such as a firing pin for a 155mm howitzer, to something as large as a carrier assembly that will hold a 155mm howitzer tube in place when the gun is fired. The first shipment will go out November 2014, and some contracts will require the arsenal to ship well into 2017.

With this announcement, the arsenal has in the last 45 days received more than $10.6 million in new orders.

-----

The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned-and-operated manufacturing facility and is the oldest, continuously active arsenal in the United States, having begun operations during the War of 1812. It celebrated its 200th anniversary in July 2013.

Today's arsenal is relied upon by U.S. and foreign militaries to produce the most advanced, high-tech, high-powered weaponry for cannon, howitzer, and mortar systems. This National Historic Registered Landmark has an annual economic benefit to the local community in excess of $90 million.

Related Links:

Hammack focuses on the Organic Industrial Base, installation resiliency

Shaping The U.S. Army's Organic Industrial Base In Wartime & Peacetime

Looking at challenges, initiatives to retain the Army's Industrial Base at Watervliet

Industrial base essential to overcome future threats

Westphal signs strategic plan in support of Army Organic Industrial Base

AMC's Public-Private Partnership program aims to preserve Organic Industrial Base

More Army News

STAND-TO!: Public Private Partnerships

Watervliet Arsenal on Flickr

Watervliet Arsenal Slideshare Page

Watervliet Arsenal on YouTube

Watervliet Arsenal on Twitter

Watervliet Arsenal on Facebook