Aug 9, 2024 06:29 PM
(This post was last modified: Aug 9, 2024 07:00 PM by C C.)
"Unqualified work force" is dancing around speak for DEI or anti-meritocracy consequences.
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A new report finds Boeing’s rockets are built with an unqualified work force
https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/08/a-...ork-force/
EXCERPT: There are some surprising details in the report about Boeing's quality control practices at the Michoud Assembly Facility in southern Louisiana, where the Exploration Upper Stage is being manufactured. Federal observers have issued a striking number of "Corrective Action Requests" to Boeing.
"According to Safety and Mission Assurance officials at NASA and DCMA officials at Michoud, Boeing’s quality control issues are largely caused by its workforce having insufficient aerospace production experience," the report states. "The lack of a trained and qualified workforce increases the risk that the contractor will continue to manufacture parts and components that do not adhere to NASA requirements and industry standards."
This lack of a qualified workforce has resulted in significant program delays and increased costs. According to the new report, "unsatisfactory" welding operations resulted in propellant tanks that did not meet specifications, which directly led to a seven-month delay in the program.
NASA's inspector general was concerned enough with quality control to recommend that the space agency institute financial penalties for Boeing’s noncompliance. However, in a response to the report, NASA's deputy associate administrator, Catherine Koerner, declined to do so. "NASA interprets this recommendation to be directing NASA to institute penalties outside the bounds of the contract," she replied. "There are already authorities in the contract, such as award fee provisions, which enable financial ramifications for noncompliance with quality control standards."
The lack of enthusiasm by NASA to penalize Boeing for these issues will not help the perception that the agency treats some of its contractors with kid gloves... (MORE - missing details)
From the report: The lack of a trained and qualified workforce increases the risk that the contractor will continue to manufacture parts and components that do not adhere to NASA requirements and industry standards. While NASA has processes in place to assess, document, and mitigate identified nonconformances to ensure that risks are well understood, communicated, and dispositioned, the rework of parts and components can contribute to increased costs and schedule delays for the SLS core and upper stages. For example, Boeing’s unsatisfactory welding operations at Michoud, a critical path item in EUS development, resulted in fuel tanks that did not meet the required specifications and caused a 7-month delay in EUS completion. Moreover, quality control deficiencies, if not identified and corrected, could increase safety risk to the integrated spacecraft.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
A new report finds Boeing’s rockets are built with an unqualified work force
https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/08/a-...ork-force/
EXCERPT: There are some surprising details in the report about Boeing's quality control practices at the Michoud Assembly Facility in southern Louisiana, where the Exploration Upper Stage is being manufactured. Federal observers have issued a striking number of "Corrective Action Requests" to Boeing.
"According to Safety and Mission Assurance officials at NASA and DCMA officials at Michoud, Boeing’s quality control issues are largely caused by its workforce having insufficient aerospace production experience," the report states. "The lack of a trained and qualified workforce increases the risk that the contractor will continue to manufacture parts and components that do not adhere to NASA requirements and industry standards."
This lack of a qualified workforce has resulted in significant program delays and increased costs. According to the new report, "unsatisfactory" welding operations resulted in propellant tanks that did not meet specifications, which directly led to a seven-month delay in the program.
NASA's inspector general was concerned enough with quality control to recommend that the space agency institute financial penalties for Boeing’s noncompliance. However, in a response to the report, NASA's deputy associate administrator, Catherine Koerner, declined to do so. "NASA interprets this recommendation to be directing NASA to institute penalties outside the bounds of the contract," she replied. "There are already authorities in the contract, such as award fee provisions, which enable financial ramifications for noncompliance with quality control standards."
The lack of enthusiasm by NASA to penalize Boeing for these issues will not help the perception that the agency treats some of its contractors with kid gloves... (MORE - missing details)
From the report: The lack of a trained and qualified workforce increases the risk that the contractor will continue to manufacture parts and components that do not adhere to NASA requirements and industry standards. While NASA has processes in place to assess, document, and mitigate identified nonconformances to ensure that risks are well understood, communicated, and dispositioned, the rework of parts and components can contribute to increased costs and schedule delays for the SLS core and upper stages. For example, Boeing’s unsatisfactory welding operations at Michoud, a critical path item in EUS development, resulted in fuel tanks that did not meet the required specifications and caused a 7-month delay in EUS completion. Moreover, quality control deficiencies, if not identified and corrected, could increase safety risk to the integrated spacecraft.