Expanding Certified Repair and Machining Capacity for Critical Submarine Components

Targeted investment enabled Delphinus Engineering, Inc. to move critical machining, repair, and component manufacturing work in-house, materially expanding its contribution to submarine sustainment and production. The effort increased machining throughput, broadened the company’s scope to support larger and more complex articles, and positioned Delphinus Engineering, Inc. to perform certified repair work for key submarine components. The result is a more capable supplier, faster task execution, and added industrial capacity in an area where maintenance downtime directly affects operational availability.

The Problem & Opportunity

Before this work, Delphinus Engineering, Inc. faced facility and equipment constraints that limited its ability to machine, test, repair, and manufacture submarine components at the level demand required. Those constraints narrowed the company’s addressable workload, forced reliance on external sources for machining-related work, and reduced flexibility in supporting both in-service and new-construction submarine requirements.

That gap mattered beyond a single supplier. When qualified industrial work cannot be performed efficiently in-house, throughput slows, supply chain exposure increases, and repair timelines stretch. In a production and sustainment environment where certified Level I and SUBSAFE-related work carries high operational consequence, expanding capable supplier capacity is strategically important.

Objective

Increase Delphinus Engineering, Inc.’s task throughput and expand the scope of work it can perform by upgrading facility infrastructure and equipment, with a focus on stronger repair, machining, overhaul, and component manufacturing capability for critical submarine applications.

Solution

Directed investment funded infrastructure improvements and new machinery that strengthened Delphinus Engineering, Inc.’s ability to execute machining, repair, maintenance, modernization, component-level manufacturing, and overhaul work in-house. Rather than simply adding equipment, this work removed core barriers that had constrained the company’s operating envelope.

The upgraded capability now supports a broader range of submarine components and articles across Level I, SUBSAFE, and non-SUBSAFE applications. It also created the foundation for Delphinus Engineering, Inc. to pursue Full Note 5000 repair certification activities tied to CCRP/AERP work, while enabling production of internal components that previously could not be manufactured internally.

Impact

• In-house machining capacity increased from 7 to 17 units annually, more than doubling Delphinus Engineering, Inc.’s throughput for this class of work.
• Delphinus Engineering, Inc. gained new in-house capability to machine, repair, and manufacture components that previously could not be executed internally.
• Equipment installation is complete, ROI targets were achieved, and Delphinus Engineering, Inc. has already produced CCRP parts while advancing certification-related work.
• Schedule efficiency for machining-related tasks improved by 75%, materially exceeding the initial 50% improvement target.
• The expanded capability reduced dependence on subcontractors and strengthened supply chain resilience for CCRP valve internals and other priority submarine components.

About BlueForge Alliance

BlueForge Alliance (BFA) is the national nonprofit, neutral integrator whose mission is to reinvigorate the U.S. defense industrial base necessary to produce next generation capabilities in partnership with the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense. BFA is a critical partner in the U.S. Navy Submarine Industrial Base’s mission to ensure industry has the capability, capacity, and resilience to build and maintain America’s next generation of undersea platforms and to support international commitments under the AUKUS partnership. The organization’s team of experts in a variety of disciplines focus on addressing critical workforce, technology, and supplier development needs. BFA is headquartered in Bryan/College Station, Texas. For more information, visit www.BlueForgeAlliance.us.