CQI announces the REME award winners 2010

The REME award, which is sponsored by the CQI, recognises engineering excellence delivered through effective change programmes, deployed through management systems and supported by personnel training and development.

There are five CQI REME Award category winners 2010, as follows:

The overall REME award winners for improvements in performance management:

• 1 Regiment Army Air Corps Workshop REME

The Formation winners of the 2010 CQI REME Award:

Best 1st Line REME Unit in 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division

• 32 Engineer Regiment Light Aid Detachment REME

Best 1st Line REME Unit in 2nd Division 

• 105 Regiment RA Light Aid Detachment REME (V)

Best 1st Line REME Unit in 3rd (United Kingdom Division)

• 38 Engineer Regiment Light Aid Detachment REME
  

Best 1st Line REME Unit in Joint Helicopter Comman 

• 1 Regiment Army Air Corps Workshop REME

Best 1st Line REME Unit in Theatre Troops

• Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Support Battalion Light Aid Detachment (HQ ARRC Sp Bn LAD)

Simon Feary, CEO of the CQI, said:

“We were so impressed by the standard of entry for this year’s REME’s awards which demonstrates the excellent work that units have delivered in improving performance while meeting highly demanding operational targets.  

“The CQI is proud to sponsor the REME award in recognition of the vital work that REME units perform in support of frontline services. The aim of the CQI REME Awards is to reward outstanding achievement and to help foster a culture of continual service improvement.

“We are also delighted that so many members of REME go on to deploy these skills in industry as members of the CQI and Chartered Quality Professionals.”

Lt Col Al Cunningham, HQ DEME(A), said:

“The CQI awards rightly recognise the professional engineering of the REME in its role in supporting equipment capability of the British Army.

“All the winners of the award, not just the overall winner, have shown professionalism in seeking to improve the way that each unit has supported its parent formation. It is a credit to all involved that this professionalism has been recognised by the CQI.”

Notes to editors

Background to the CQI REME Awards

REME technicians and mechanics are responsible for the repair and maintenance of all British Army equipment and the CQI REME Award acknowledges the achievements of the REME First Line Units in:

• Improving its ability to achieve its mission and actually achieving it
• Encouraging the use and application of REME engineering skills
• Improving Esprit de Corps

Assessment for the CQI REME Awards is based on the following criteria:

• Mission Success
• Engineering Performance
• Training & Innovation
• Fostering REME Esprit de Corps, including recruiting

About the CQI REME Award winners

Overall winner - 1 Regiment Army Air Corps Workshop REME

1 Regt AAC Workshop’s main effort in 2009-10 was operations. The deployment of both Lynx squadrons from September 2009 to May 2010 on Operation HERRICK in support of Joint Helicopter Force in Afghanistan saw a sizable proportion of the workshop deployed. The training commitment to convert to Lx Mk 9A in preparation of both Squadrons to deploy consecutively to Afghanistan in support of Joint Helicopter Force was considerable.

During this busy period, the Workshop delivered outstanding outcomes in technical reviews and inspections. 1 Regiment Army Air Corps Workshop achieved the following dramatic engineering improvements during 2010:

• LEAN Toolstore – The TQMS continued to deliver lean processes within the toolstore, ensuring the levels of specialist tools were reviewed and increased/decreased to meet the changing demand. The employment of the Calibration Register Clerk saw seen a 100% improvement in critical calibration equipment availability (such as Rotor Tuners). 
• Aircraft Condition Surveys – A concerted effort was made to ensure that all aircraft leaving the Workshop/Regiment and entering their depth maintenance period in UK do not receive an unsatisfactory report. Success during this drive was shown with no aircraft being flagged as below standard.
• Theatre Entry Standard (Lynx Aircraft) – The force preparation for HERRICK 11 saw five additional aircraft delivered to the workshop, in a standard acceptable for flying in BA(G) but not theatre. This meant a large amount of additional work needed to be conducted on these airframes to ensure they were prepared prior to departure to theatre.
• Crew Shift system – This saw a more operationally focussed approach to the in barracks working routine. Whilst not a new approach it saw the productivity maximised at no risk to engineering safety or to the detriment of the flying programme. The resultant output has seen all hours lost earlier in the training year due to Ash Cloud restrictions, being regained prior to summer leave. The primary driver for this change was to improve the personal welfare of my soldiers and their families by applying this more flexible approach to all aspects of their administration.  

For further information contact Catherine Bithell at the CQI on 020 7 245 8565.