Boeing will pay FAA at least $17 million over 737 production mistakes

[Elderberry]

American Military News by Dominic Gates  The Seattle Times - 5/30/2021

The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday Boeing will pay at least $17 million in penalties and must undertake multiple corrective actions to improve quality control in building the 737.

Though that’s the largest fine imposed in some years, it’s a relatively small amount for Boeing. Federal law limits the maximum fine the FAA can impose to about $30,000 per defective airplane delivered.

More damagingly, the FAA action adds yet another black mark to recent revelations about serious quality control shortcomings in Boeing’s production system. It further harms the jetmaker’s reputation, already blackened by the design errors that led to the two fatal 737 Max crashes.

Just last week, Congress demanded records to begin an investigation of ongoing quality lapses.

In a statement Thursday, Boeing said “we take our responsibility to meet all regulatory requirements very seriously.”

“These penalties stem from issues that were raised in 2019 and which we fully resolved in our production system and supply chain,” Boeing said. “We continue to devote time and resources to improving safety and quality performance.”

The FAA fine relates to two separate defects that Boeing allowed to be installed on its Renton-built 737s, including both the older 737 NG model and the newest 737 Max.

More: https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/05/boeing-will-pay-faa-at-least-17-million-over-737-production-mistakes/

[PeteS in CA]

On the military side, the Lazy B has had problems with FOD in KC-46 production (a converted 767, IIRC). Their workers can't seem to figure out how not to leave tools and other "Foreign Objects" inside of wings and other closed assemblies.

[Elderberry]

For a short while I worked with a fella that worked Range Safety on the early days of the Atlas Centaur. They were very concerned after launch failure  after failure. They then mounted several cameras inside the next rocket. Well, he said when they viewed the next launch, that they also had to terminate, they saw all sorts of FOD flying inside the rocket. After they became aware of the "Rest of the Story", the Atlas Centaur become one of our most dependable rockets.

[thackney]

For a short while I worked with a fella that worked Range Safety on the early days of the Atlas Centaur. They were very concerned after launch failure  after failure. They then mounted several cameras inside the next rocket. Well, he said when they viewed the next launch, that they also had to terminate, they saw all sorts of FOD flying inside the rocket. After they became aware of the "Rest of the Story", the Atlas Centaur become one of our most dependable rockets.

You would not believe that amount of trash that comes into the strainer before the pump/compressor on a significant pipeline during start-up.  It is like the pipeline guys believe no other trash can exists but the big empty hole at the end of miles and miles of pipeline.  It does not how many get fired on the spot after getting caught throwing things in the pipe..  Welding rod, brushes, you name it, it showed up in the strainer, saving the pump/compressor from destruction.

Welders always have to be careful.  If the pipe was laying in place overnight, check it for bodies (alive or dead) before welding the next section.  Animal and human.  I don't understand the desire to sleep in a pipeline.

[PeteS in CA]

My previous employer was a military contractor. We had to have trays with foam cut-outs for every tool we had. At the end of the day every tool had to be in its place - sort of, "No tool left behind".