Satellite Services Division Improves Service To Customers

Satellite Services Division Improves Service To Customers

The Satellite Services Division (SSD), part of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, serves the nation with world class
environmental satellite data and products.  It's mission provides a
critical and diverse service to America's citizenry; from information on
hurricanes and severe storms, to data collection of snow depth and river
gauge information, to products related to volcanos, forest fires,
floods, ozone, etc., to real-time satellite imagery shown on news
programs across the nation every day.  SSD's "teamwork for quality"
theme has enabled management to empower its workforce with a vision
focused on innovative change and customer satisfaction.  Since the
timeliness and quality of satellite data can directly effect the lives
and property of its customers, SSD is charged with an awesome
responsibility.  Quality accomplishments include:  (1) Using quality
improvement teams increased customer data transfer rates by 300% and
improved delivery of satellite data from 98% to 99.4%; (2) Developed
successful customer service partnerships that design and fund satellite
system enhancements; and (3) Working with SSD's prime customer, the
National Weather Service, designed a modernized data-highway
communications strategy that is increasing customer data by 50 times to
support weather forecasts and warnings.  The SSD is has partially
implemented a modernized data-highway communications strategy for
delivering satellite data to customers that will increase capabilities
up to 50 times the present level at no additional cost to the
government.

From:   Ben Watkins
Organization:  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Department of Commerce
Location:  Silver Spring, MD
Telephone:  (301) 763-8051