Brief Pantex ?Quality Pause? Tied to Worker Questions Over Assembly Processes

A brief “quality pause” that occurred earlier this week at the Pantex Plant was initiated after site workers “questioned non-nuclear hardware assembly processes,” a spokesman for the site’s managing contractor, Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, said yesterday. The pause lasted for about two hours on May 4, according to CNS spokesman George Rangel. “Consolidated Nuclear Security elected to begin work on Monday with a site-wide ‘quality pause,’ at the Pantex Plant to re-emphasize the importance of adhering to procedures, processes and quality standards. The ’quality pause’ was called after workers questioned non-nuclear hardware assembly processes last week, and is part of CNS’ standard practice of stopping work periodically to reinforce the importance of the company’s five daily ‘absolutes’ of safety, security, mission delivery, quality and cost efficiency,” Rangel said in a written response. During the pause “Pantex managers, supervisors and employees discussed quality and workmanship expectations as well as opportunities for improved worker training,” Rangel said, adding, “There were no worker, public or environmental safety concerns involved.”