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PURPOSE

The chartering of the System Engineer Subgroup (SESG) will promote additional focus on the management of Vital Safety Systems (VSS) across the Department of Energy (DOE) complex.  With prominent cross-cutting initiatives and requirements such as integrating nuclear safety into designs and safe management of aging facilities across the complex, robust management of VSS will continue to be of paramount importance to the DOE and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB).  The SESG is a working committee to help facilitate the objective of the Engineering Practices Working Group (EPWOG) as related to VSS.

The SESG will foster excellence in management of VSS by sharing programmatic information, lessons learned, and techniques for integration with operations and regulatory organizations to the degree appropriate for their contract/facility.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the SESG are as follows:

1.    Operate within the EFCOG Charter and the Guidelines for Working Groups/Subgroups of EFCOG and under the direction of the EPWOG.

2.    Enable the success of DOE missions in terms of high quality management and oversight of VSS in a technically viable and cost effective manner.

3.    Promote, coordinate, and facilitate the early, active, and real-time exchange of ideas, initiatives, practices, procedures, lessons learned, and other pertinent information to allow for members and their respective sites to successfully and proactively manage VSS.

4.    Serve as a consensus board for emerging directives proposed by DOE, recommendations proposed by DNFSB, and questions emanating from all stakeholders to ensure the correct interpretation of VSS requirements and consistent application of management programs.

5.    Promote training, personnel development, and continuous improvement via free flow of information using all available real-time media.

6.    Using a bias for action as a model, provide planning and proactively execute actions necessary to complete tasks required to meet the specific goals of the SESG, EPWOG, and EFCOG.

SCOPE

The SESG will operate within the scope of the EPWOG and EFCOG, and cover the following topical areas:

1.    Management of Aging Facilities/Systems

2.    Assessments of System Health/system monitoring

3.    Personnel Selection, Training, and Qualification

4.    Performance Metrics/system trending:  Components/Systems/Personnel

5.    Implementation of DNFSB Recommendations

6.    Delineation of DOE Requirements

7.    Technical Basis Documentation Issues

8.    Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD)/Commercial Grade Items (CGI) Issues

9.    Delineation of VSS Boundaries/Designations

10. Interface with Other EFCOG Working Groups

ORGANIZATION

1.    Membership in the SESG is open to current EFCOG members, associate members, and DOE representatives.

2.    The SESG will strive to maintain a balanced membership of EM, NNSA, and DOE personnel from all key mission segments across the DOE complex.

3.    The SESG will elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson at the initial subgroup meeting.  The term of office for both positions will be 2 years.  If the Chairperson leaves the position, the Vice Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson until an election can be held at the next subsequent subgroup meeting.  Alternately, the SESG may appoint 2 Co-chairs who will share the duties of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.  If one of the Co-chairs leaves the position, the other Co-Chair will assume the position of Chairperson and a new Vice Chairperson or Co-Chair will be elected.

4.    The duties of the Chairperson (Co-chair) are summarized below:

A.    Direct the overall activities of the SESG.

B.    Organize and manage meetings to set work scope, oversee progress, and ensure successful execution on all subgroup commitments.

C.    Serve as the point-of-contact for official EFCOG communications.

D.   Interface with other working groups and subgroups to define SESG leadership and/or support to cross-cutting activities and initiatives.

PROCESS

1.    SESG meetings will be held when deemed necessary by the Chairperson, when requested by the EPWOG Steering Committee, or when requested by the subgroup members.

2.    The goals, objectives, list of deliverables, and quantitative/qualitative benefits generated by the SESG shall be complied by the Chairperson on a annual basis, and rolled into the EPOWG Annual Report to the EFCOG Board of Directors.

3.    Change to this charter requires the approval of the EPOWG Steering Committee and the EFCOG Board of Directors.

DELIVERABLES

1.    Detailed meeting minutes shall be distributed to all SESG and EPWOG members within three weeks of the meeting.

2.    Timely white papers and/or presentations will be developed and distributed pertaining to management of VSS across the DOE complex.

3.    Best Practices will be developed, approved per EFCOG protocol and posted to the EPWOG website.

4.    An Annual Report of key SESG accomplishments and forward-looking critical issues to be addressed by the SESG shall be issued.