Availability of information provides the flexibility necessary to facilitate changes in work processes. Both re-engineering and continual process improvements are employed to reduce costs and increase production quality and capacity. Work processes employed at the Bureau's Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth facilities differ due to the layout of the plants. The user community regularly identifies new requirements to enhance operational efficiency and product accountability, and resolve operational issues as they arise. Private sector support is used, as appropriate, for this mission critical system.
Contractors supplement a small core government staff to provide programming and analysis support.
Contractors also manage the Bureau's computer facility. Year 2000 compliance has been addressed through the conversion to CA-CAS 3.0, completed in early 1997, and an aggressive Year 2000 Program. Security risks are assessed and managed through the Bureau's Computer System Security Program. The Contingency Plan is tested at the alternate site biannually to better ensure operational readiness. Business ownership of the system is therefore shared across the organization.