How To Please 30'000 + Stakeholders

In 2012 the Royal Navy introduced a new dark blue "modernised" combat uniform known as Number 4 RNPCS, designed to respond to sailors feedback that they wanted a uniform that was more versatile and more adaptable to weather conditions.

During the the following 7 years the feedback process, which will be improved as a result of #HQTransformation, identified that some features in the uniform could be better.

This led to the launch in 2019 of the RNPCS Modernisation Project. A project that was initially kicked off in a slightly chaotic way to focus only on design features but then recognised that material was also an issue, so is a two-phase project.

Upon taking over as SRO of this Project in March 2020 it became clear that we could improve the Project Approach, Governance and Assurance, which we quickly did.

It also became obvious that the expertise held in #DE&S #Leidos-LCST and the #InstituteOfNavalMedicine was critical to success and that a strong ethos of collaboration and transparency was the only way to ensure that we met the demanding timescales placed on the project to meet #CSG21.

The multi disciplined project team have forged a fantastic way of working, developing their skills and understanding along the way, focusing always on the best outcomes for our sailors.

Uniform is an emotive and provocative subject, those who join the #RoyalNavy do so knowing that they will have to wear one and there is rarely a common view of what is good or bad. What we do have are materials experts, scientists highly qualified in heat exhaustion, uniform designers with years of experience, experienced sailors as subject matter experts to represent the wearers views, a superb communications lead and a great project manager.

We know that we are not going to please all wearers, that would be naive given that there is little commonality in the views expressed, but we do know that we will ensure that the new RNPCS is fit for purpose and the best it can be for release in 2021.

What we also know as we move to an era of continuous improvement is that the release in 2021 is the start of an iterative process.

We aim to introduce continuous improvement in fabrics, fit, durability and safety across the uniform range as everyday activity. We aim to reduce the need for big bang projects, using the right experience and expertise we aim to rationalise the massive range of uniform items currently held, focus on clothing systems and commonality to achieve multiple clothing capabilities that will endure and protect across the range of tasks, operations and climates that our sailors operate in.

There is full support for a shift away from highly bespoke items to commercial off the shelf layered clothing solutions and I am confident that as the new approach starts to mature our 30'000 + stakeholders will see the difference.