It is a fact that a well-maintained galley plays an important role in effective foodservice. This further contributes to labor saving and high morale. Yet, there are no Navy schools that provide training on the proper upkeep of galley equipment. Contrary to this is the fact that galley equipment is often the most used and abused equipment found aboard ships. Engineers may often be preoccupied with other matters such as refresher training (REFTRA) or operational reactor safeguards examinations (ORSEs). For this reason, the role of the senior MS is vital. He or she must conduct frequent equipment inspections as well as monitor required maintenance to make sure it is done properly. If frequent inspections are not conducted to determine needed repairs, equipment deficiencies may go unnoticed and lead to decreased operating efficiency and safety hazards to personnel.

The Navy's planned maintenance system (PMS) maintenance actions are the minimum required to maintain Navy machinery and equipment in a fully operable condition within given specifications. To this end, preventive maintenance is set up for all equipment that may be seriously damaged or affect the safety of the operator if it should break down. The Navy PMS program provides a list of all equipment that requires periodic inspection, adjustment, cleaning, and lubrication.

The senior MS is directly responsible to the FSO for the proper maintenance of all spaces and equipment of the foodservice section. In this position, you must advise the appropriate department or division of all required repairs to foodservice equipment and spaces.

A Machinist's Mate should take care of the oiling of your equipment. However, it is up to you to make sure it is done as scheduled.

Preventive Maintenance Schedules

Proper use of the PMS program ensures maintenance is conducted and completed when required. It provides a simple and standard means for planning, scheduling, controlling, and performing preventive maintenance. The PMS program uses schedules and documents, some of which areas follows:

A weekly PMS schedule shows the planned maintenance schedule for accomplishment during a specific week.

A quarterly PMS schedule shows the planned maintenance schedule for accomplishment during a specific 3-month period.

A cycle PMS schedule shows the planned maintenance requirements to be performed during the period between major overhauls of a ship.

Routine Maintenance

Each piece of galley equipment has a maintenance requirement card (MRC). This card provides detailed procedures for performing maintenance requirements and tells, who, what, when, how, and with what resources a specific requirement is to be accomplished. It also states safety precautions that reduce the chance of costly or dangerous preventive maintenance errors.

PMS Audit/Spot Check

Individual maintenance requirements are audited to determine the effectiveness of PMS accomplishments. The FSO or other designated person performs a PMS audit on at least one maintenance requirement (MR) per week. The following steps should be taken when conducting a PMS audit:

1. Randomly select from a weekly or quarterly schedule a maintenance requirement that has been crossed off as being completed.

2. Identify and call upon the individual who performed the maintenance requirement.

3. Have this individual pull the MRC (auditor should read the MRC and become familiar with the steps performed). Proceed with the individual to the equipment selected to be checked.

4. Then question the maintenance person. The questioning should be of a general nature and related to the maintenance requirement.

Memorizing the card is not required, but if the maintenance was done, the person should be familiar with the MRC. Inquiries should be made to determine the following information:

If the person actually did the work. (If not, a scheduling or supervisory problem exists.) If the person did not do the work then the individual who actually did the maintenance should be questioned.

If all basic parts of the maintenance requirement were done; for example, if parts of the MR required operation of the equipment were they in fact operated.

If basic safety precautions were observed. If the proper tools and materials were used.

If disassembly was part of the procedure, inspect the equipment for evidence of disassembly, such as mechanical guards or hold-down bolts.

Finally, the work center supervisor should be asked the technical accuracy of the MRC.

Self-Help

Organizational self-help is defined as a unit's personnel working in its own workspaces performing handyman and general maintenance and repair projects.

COs may use self-help to perform projects that reduce critical maintenance backlog identified in the annual inspection summary (AIS).

An organizational self-help program should be established within your foodservice operation for the purpose of improvement through optimal use of available resources. Command support in providing funding, manpower, and material is vital.

Setting up a self-help program within the foodservice division should provide improvement through the best use of available resources. Your command must support such a program for it to be successful. This support should be in the form of providing funding, manpower, and material.

Leading MSs may use self-help to perform projects that reduce critical maintenance overload as well as improve the effectiveness of the foodservice operation. This further enhances morale and cost control.