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Comment by fh973 | Hacker News Reader

Apparently these problems are very hard to avoid. See here for some stories in context of the Space Shuttle: https://waynehale.wordpress.com/

As a remedy, they use tools that are tracked by RFID and tool cabinets that monitor that all tools are back in place.

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Based on the last time I was in the Everett factory (3 years ago), Boeing requires all machinists have foam cutouts in their toolboxes and that every tool is returned to the toolbox at the end of the shift. Tools checked out from the tool crib must also be returned to the tool crib at the end of the shift. This has in practice greatly lowered the amount of lost tools in aircraft, since every tool is accounted for.

I imagine that the FOD in the fuel tanks is most likely lots of scrap from drilling out the holes rivets are placed in, and probably some rivet debris as well. There most likely is a process for clearing that out from where its generated (rivet holes are not often pre-drilled), and there may be inadequate supervision of the machinists doing that.

It’s a known problem with known solutions. “Foreign object elimination” I ended up taking the FOE training after someone left a tool at a radar site. I work in software and never visited the site, but “big company”. FOD foreign object damage is what everyone is trying to avoid.

(Pdf) https://www.astm.org/CERTIFICATION/DOCS/222.NCATT_FOE_Standa...

Any large aerospace contractor has mandatory FOD/FOE training for ALL employees (contract stipulation). Don't forget to not charge for this time spent!

> Don't forget to not charge for this time spent!

Implying an interesting story here, mind sharing?

I think he’s just saying remember to get paid for it. Don’t do it for free if you are hourly or contracting. Required training in the US is a paid activity.

If you've ever worked for a defense contractor, you have charge codes for everything. They take charging to the correct code correctly very very seriously. (In 6 minute intervals (.1 hr)). Submit your time daily.

We were a Boeing Sub contractor.

Timecard fraud was a fireable offense. The company I worked for was rumored to have fired someone who came into the office on a weekend and badged in his buddy who wasn't actually there. Basically trying to game the door timer system.

My last task at big co, was making a timecard app for ios and blackberry, to make it easy.

Yes that makes sense, but the interesting story would by why required training should _not_ be billed to the client.

Also through “sponge logs” which inherit their amusing name from the medical industry.

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