Electronics Material Officer Course

MODULE NUMBER ONE

LESSON TOPIC FOUR

ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

LESSON TOPIC OVERVIEW

LESSON TOPIC FOUR

ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

In Lesson Topic 1.2 you became familiar with bills, reports, and directives that pertain to electronics. EMOs use many other documents to administer and manage shipboard electronics equipment. This lesson topic will discuss publications that pertain to electronics, their content, and procurement. Other lesson topics will also discuss documents pertinent to them.

The LEARNING OBJECTIVES of this LESSON TOPIC are as follows:

The student should review the "LIST OF STUDY RESOURCES" and read the Lesson Topic LEARNING OBJECTIVES before beginning the lesson topic.

LIST OF STUDY RESOURCES

ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

To learn the material in this LESSON TOPIC, you will use the following study resources:

Written Lesson Topic presentations in the Module Booklet:

Additional Materials:

References:

LESSON TOPIC SUMMARY

ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

This lesson topic will introduce you to various electronics technical publications, their content and procurement. The information covered will help you manage your technical library. The lesson narrative is organized as follows:

NARRATIVE FORM

OF

LESSON TOPIC 1.4

ELECTRONICS TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

Efficient electronics administration requires the EMO to ensure that a current, complete library of electronics publications, including technical manuals, is maintained on board ship. Technical publications must be catalogued and reviewed to ensure that the latest edition and changes are available. Use of incorrect or obsolete information can be dangerous to personnel and equipment. The importance of technical manual accuracy to the mission of the fleet is sometimes understated. We can only guess at the number of missions that have been jeopardized due to system failure as a result of inaccurate or obsolete technical manuals.

In June 1975, the Naval Sea Systems Command issued the NAVSEA Journal, later known as Deckplate. It described the Ship's Technical Data Management Information System (STEDMIS). This system provided an index of stock numbers and information in hard copy and microfiche formats. In 1976, NAVSEASYSCOM established procedures, policies, and responsibilities for NAVSEA technical manual maintenance. Three years later, the Guide for User Maintenance of NAVSEA Technical Manuals was issued. This publication delineates the procedures and responsibilities of the NAVSEA Technical Manual Management Program (TMMP).

Today the Ship's Technical Publications System (STEPS) produces products that contain information concerning technical documentation to support electronic, hull, mechanical, electrical, and ordnance systems/equipment under the cognizance of NAVSEA and SPAWAR (Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command). STEPS produces the Publications Applicability List (PAL). The PAL is a microfiche listing of technical manuals required for operating and maintaining NAVSEA and SPAWAR equipment in a particular ship. It is not a list of publications required for your ship. It is a list of publications that apply to your ship.

The PAL lists publications by:

It is organized into four volumes:

Each volume contains three parts:

The Technical Manual Identification Numbering System (TMINS) was developed to standardize technical manual numbering. This system replaces multiple numbering systems and aids in the standardization of cataloguing within systems commands. The Technical Manual Identification Numbering System (TMINS) Application Guide and Index, M0000-00-IDX-000/TMINS is the sole reference handbook for all component commands involved with the composition, construction, interpretation, or assignment of technical manual/technical document identification numbers. This document will help you understand how TMINS is used. TMINS publication numbers (e.g., EE010-A1-WSC-010) are currently being assigned by NAVSEASYSCOM for all new and revised technical manuals. A breakdown of the TMIN is provided Figure 1.4-1.

All ships are provided an initial allowance of technical manuals. You will need to consult NAVSUP P2002 or, in many cases, the issuing authority to obtain additional manuals or replace those that are outdated, missing, or destroyed. If the supply of manuals is limited, justification may be required. Requirements for technical manuals are included as a part of equipment contracts. As a result, the number of manuals vary with each contract and is limited. For this reason, distribution is normally limited to recipients of the equipment and those activities required to service it. Technical manuals are produced in the following forms:

Figure 1.4-1 Technical Manual Identification Number

Technical manuals occasionally contain errors. To correct errors, the following are issued:

When made available, these are listed in an EIB (Electronics Information Bulletin). The technical background of corrections may also be published in the EIB. All change, including updates due to installed field changes, must be made in technical manuals, regardless of the time and effort required. If the corrections are not made, many man-hours may be lost. Technicians may attempt to repair equipment using an incorrect schematic. Technicians have been electrically shocked as a result of using obsolete technical manuals and student guides. Because it is essential that reference material is as current and accurate as possible, publication changes and corrections must be entered as they are issued. For example, if the current issue of the EIB corrects information in an earlier issue, the earlier issue should be changed immediately. If a page is not provided in the manual for recording completed changes, an alternate method must be devised. One method is to annotate the margin of the new material to indicate the source publication that initiated the change. Specific individuals should be assigned responsibility for installing changes in publications. The EMO should spot check technical manuals periodically.

The EMO should encourage personnel to send in Technical Manual Deficiency Evaluation Reports (TMDER). All technical manual errors should be reported. The Guide for User Maintenance of NAVSEA Technical Manuals, NAVSEA S005-AA-GYD-030/TMMP, provides information regarding deficiency reporting.

Ensuring that the technical library is complete and current is a time-consuming job that requires meticulous attention to detail. You will want to ensure that a responsible individual is assigned and trained as the technical manual custodian or librarian.

Ensure that the custodian is familiar with the following tools for technical manual management:

The ship's SAIL will assist in determining recent equipment/system modifications. A TPLC should be filled out for every publication (volume and part). The TPLC will provide a ready reference for locating technical manuals and determining their change level. The CECF is used to route changes and certify change accomplishment. Additionally, current issues of NAVSEA Deckplate, EIBs, and EIMBs should be examined for information on the availability of handbooks, final technical manuals, revisions, supplements, and changes pertaining to the ship's systems and equipment.

The Naval Ships' Technical Manual (NSTM) is one of the most complete, authoritative references available on NAVSEA equipment. Chapter 400 of the manual is titled Electronics, and is required reading for electronics personnel. Two copies per ship are usually required, one for the electronics shop and one for the electronics technical library. The purpose of Chapter 400 is to provide major policies and instructions pertaining to electronics maintenance and electronics material under NAVSEA and SPAWAR cognizance. This chapter is available as a separate pamphlet. Chapter 400 also lists other publications containing information of value to electronics personnel. Other chapters of the Naval Ships' Technical Manual that will be of interest to electronics personnel are:

Appendix I of the Shipboard Electronics Material Officer manual contains a reference list of publications and instructions that will assist in your electronic administrative duties. You should familiarize yourself with these references and ensure that the current series is on board.

PROCEED TO ASSIGNMENT SHEET 1-4-1A IN THE ASSIGNMENT BOOKLET. UPON COMPLETION, TAKE THE ASSIGNMENT BOOKLET TO THE LEARNING CENTER INSTRUCTOR.