Review of Mass Spectrometry and Bioremediation Programs of the Edgewood Research, Development and Engineering Center (1998) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-11
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The CBDCOM is the latest in a long line of military organizations designated for chemical and biological defense research. Because of the critical nature of its mission, the CBDCOM requested that the National Research Council (NRC)
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CURRENT STUDY For this study, the committee was guided by the Statement of Task that directed the committee to "review the processes used by two representative, but very different ERDEC programs, mass spectrometry and bioremediation, to move basic research results and technology through development." The Statement of Task also directed the committee to comment on the "technical character of the two teams, since those processes must be assumed to affect overall technical quality," and, among other things, to review the procedures to "promote an overall quality focus." THE PROGRAMS UNDER REVIEW The mass spectrometry and bioremediation groups belong to two different ERDEC teams. The mass spectrometry group is part of the Chemical and Biological Point Detection Team, and the bioremediation group is part of the Environmental Technology Team.
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Because the Statement of Task required the committee to focus on quality, the committee has commented extensively on the effectiveness of the quality management programs of the two groups at the time of the interviews. The topics listed below are some of the aspects of quality management touched on in this report: .
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· teamwork at all levels · using performance metrics · benchmarking (learning from others) · using project management · establishing a corporate culture that fosters quality management
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MASS SPECTROMETRY Findings Although the mass spectrometry group is progressing toward its goals of identifying biomarkers for bacteria, spores, and proteins, is working on protein biomarkers using electrospray ionization methods, and is developing a battlefield CW detector, improvements could be made in several areas. First, the committee was concerned about the lack of mission focus of the portfolio of projects.
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The three mass spectrometry subgroups work in relative isolation from each other and do not regularly share ideas or results. Conclusion 4.
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Recommendation 3. As soon as possible, the senior management of the Research and Technology Directorate should evaluate, with the assistance of outside experts, the effectiveness of mass spectrometry for detecting and identifying biological agents compared to other approaches, such as immunological methods, polymerase chain reactions, and other antibody/antigenbased systems.
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Finally, annual Technology Base Reviews could be used to improve communication among technology teams. The highest priorities for management attention are Commitment to Quality, which encompasses training, focus, dedication, and the many activities espoused in the Baldrige National Quality Award and ISO criteria; and Metrics, which includes measures for evaluating progress in key areas.
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Recommendation 5. The leadership of the Research and Technology Directorate should use annual Technology Base Reviews for sharing information among all technology teams.
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Conclusion 5. Because the time limitations imposed by the annual funding mechanism and the corresponding procedure favor the selection of applied research projects, neither the mass spectrometry nor the bioremediation group can effectively conduct long-term basic research.
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Recommendation 5. The Research and Technology Directorate should de-emphasize in-house, long-term, basic research and should use these funds to sponsor research with universities or transfer projects to external Army agencies that are more clearly associated with long-term basic research.
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