- Site: Rosyth
- IR number: 21-082
- Date: September 2021
- LC numbers: 17
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) undertakes all regulatory interaction with Rosyth Royal Dockyard Limited (RRDL) against a strategy defined by the ONR Propulsion Division. This intervention relates to Licence Condition 17 (LC17), which requires a Licensee to make and implement a management system that gives due priority to safety. A fundamental element of these arrangements is the Licensee’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) arrangements.
In accordance with the strategy and the requirements of LC17, a supply chain inspection was carried out between the 15th and 16th September 2021.
The purpose of this inspection was to test the adequacy of Rosyth Royal Dockyard Limited’s (RRDL) supply chain arrangements to support the concept design phase of the Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP).
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
The inspection determined the adequacy of RRDL’s supply chain management arrangements and its implementation for the SDP Stage 2 concept design phase. This was measured against ONR’s regulatory expectations, informed by relevant good practice and ONR guidance documentation. Regulatory expectations for supply chain management arrangements and procurement activities for nuclear safety related items or services are in NS-TAST-GD-077: Procurement of Nuclear Safety Related Items or Services (TAG 077).
The implementation of those arrangements was reviewed via desktop-based discussions with the Licensee and random sampling of relevant documentation associated with the concept design phase of the Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP).
This inspection was rated based on the ONR inspection rating system guidance as explained ONR-INSP-GD – 064 - ONR ‘Compliance Inspection Guide’. This is available on the ONR external website.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
Based on the evidence sampled, I judged that RRDL adequately demonstrated:
- Defined organisational arrangements for the management of the concept phase of the SDP project, with direct reporting lines to responsible personnel and a governance structure that was adequate for its organisation.
- That the current arrangements to establish RRDL’ s Design Authority Intelligent Customer were adequate for this stage of the project.
- The RRDL team for the SDP Stage 2 concept design appeared to be well integrated, working as one body.
- An open and honest approach throughout the inspection.
On the basis of the evidence sampled before and during this inspection, I made three minor observations that RRDL may wish to consider as it enters future SDP project phases. These were as follows:
- RRDL to consider the adequacy of its quality management arrangements to address possible future SDP project activities.
- RRDL should consider reviewing its arrangements to hold a supplier to account for timely delivery of deliverables as per the contract agreement.
- The lack of nuclear competency requirements for some RRDL roles was noted as was the need for timely updating of the current record matrix. It was noted that this was being addressed under a regulatory issue, identified from a previous ONR inspection.
Conclusion of Intervention
Based on ONR’s findings from the evidence sampled, I judge that RRDL’s supply chain management arrangements for the SDP stage 2 concept design phase are adequate.
Taking the above into account I consider that an inspection rating of Green (No Formal Action) is merited for RRDL’s supply chain management arrangements, noting the relevant guidance within ONR documentation.