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Huntron helps Navy MTR Program save more than $800 million since 1996

The MTR Program’s foundation is built upon what is known as Gold Disk diagnostic test routines. Gold Disks are used by technicians throughout the Navy and DOD for on-site diagnosis of circuit card assemblies (CCA) and electronic modules (EM) for repair using 2M and MTR equipment. There are currently more than 7,000 Gold Disk test routines, which are distributed quarterly on DVD to Navy and DOD commands.
As a diagnostic troubleshooting tool, each Gold Disk enables a technician to identify the faulty components on CCAs or electronic modules. The same technology may also be used to determine whether an assembly is “No Fault Evident.” The primary purpose of a Gold Disk is to provide the technician with all the necessary information to identify component-level failures and complete the necessary repairs. The diagnostic enhancement and organic repair capability reduce repair costs and improve fleet readiness.
Thanks to this program, CCA/EM repairs are accomplished at the lowest practical maintenance level, thereby offsetting activity costs associated with OEM/depot repair. Under OPNAV and NAVSEA guidance, the MTR Program develops and provides electrical/electronic module test and repair capabilities to organizational and intermediate maintenance facilities for both ashore and afloat commands.

MTR station demonstration
The next generation of tester “AN/USM-726”

Engineers and technicians at Det. Norfolk develop the technical manuals and the Gold Disks for circuit card assemblies, they certify Gold Disk developers and developer sites, they provide guidance for the maintenance and operation of MTR facilities, and they supply the technical assistance for all aspects of the MTR program. Det. Norfolk is also the Gold Disk verification agent for all DOD activities and the depot for the AN/USM-674 tester. The 2M ISEA is located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane; the MTR ISEA is at Det. Norfolk. The program began in 1975 as a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) program and now 2M/MTR is the standard maintenance process for circuit card and electronics testing and repair and is essential for maintaining a ship’s combat readiness. The current MTR tester, known as the “AN/USM-674,” is now obsolete with the next generation of tester “AN/USM-726,” currently being deployed. This will require some additional training on the upgraded tester.
A 2M MTR workstation includes a computer, a computer-controlled analog signature analysis tester, a soldering station, a microscope, tools, and other specialized equipment and accessories designed for CCA and EM fault diagnosis and repairs. There are two work benches: one for testing and one for repair. The tester, its components, and parts are not available commercially; it is a strictly Navy-managed product. Because of space limitations, the workstation is not installed on fast attack submarines but is installed in modified form on SSBNs and SSGNs.

MTR Repair station
Thanks to the 2M MTR work station developed for this program, which includes a computer, a computer-controlled analog signature analysis tester, a soldering station, a microscope, tools, and other specialized equipment, repairs of circuit card assemblies and electronic modules are accomplished at the lowest practical maintenance level, thereby offsetting activity costs associated with OEM/depot repair.

The MTR Program is comprehensive in what it provides to Sailors and the fleet. The program’s Help Desk assists technicians with any issues related to the MTR process. The Help Desk can even direct Sailors to exactly which drawer and bin a particular piece part needed for repair is located. The program also provides standard training to certify Gold Disk technicians and has become highly sought after training among Sailors.
The program also offers the MTR Tracking System, which provides technicians and supervisors with the ability to track documents and generate reports on all maintenance actions related to faults and resolutions. The program provides quarterly metrics reporting on fleet savings as well as a database of every circuit card that has failed, what failed on it, and which component fails the most. These reports are provided to the type commanders, Shore Immediate Supervisor In Command, NAVSEA Maintenance Engineering Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Commander Pacific Fleet, and 2M MTR commands.
The reports contain all the metrics and savings of the program. For example, in FY18, the program yielded $22.5M in cost avoidance, with 8174 repairs and 340 casualty reports averted. Since the program began in FY96, the cost avoidance for the Navy is $804.4M.

In service to the fleet, the Gold Disk program improves the readiness and sustainability of ship and shore systems and their components. It also reduces the number of technical assists allowing Sailors to effect repairs on their own systems and, as such, improves their quality of life because their work is not delayed as they wait for outside assistance.