Manufacturers and fabricators build their reputation on the quality of the products they produce. A vital part of the quality process is regulating Foreign Object Debris (FOD), defined as any substance, debris or article alien to a vehicle or system which could potentially cause damage or prevent proper functioning of the system.
Costs associated with FOD can be dramatic, including the loss of production and unplanned rework. In aerospace applications, crew safety could be affected by FOD. As a result, many companies are moving toward FOD-free fabrication, assembly, testing and processing of all components and products, and the industry is seeing dedicated FOD prevention programs developed as a result. FOD can come in many different forms, but in manufacturing FOD tends to come from a few likely sources:
FOD prevention programs address behavior and guidelines for both employees and visitors alike. One of the first steps is to determine areas where FOD could be a problem and clearly identify them by signage and boundary markers. Next, company policy should be that all employees that set foot inside these areas are required to go through specific FOD prevention/awareness training. Furthermore, it is a good idea for visitors to have at least a briefing on FOD prevention if they will be in an affected area.
Popular in the aerospace industry in particular, “Clean As You Go” is a good practice for a FOD prevention program. Cleaning up the immediate and surrounding areas when work cannot continue and cleaning up the area when departing for more than 15 minutes are a couple of standard practices that Clean As You Go dictates.
Another popular philosophy is the lean manufacturing technique known as 6S. This philosophy is aimed at organizing the work area to optimize efficiency. The six “S’s” of the technique are sort, straighten, shine, standardize, safety and sustain. By clearly designating FOD risk areas and implementing Clean As You Go and 6S techniques, companies can greatly reduce the amount of tools and work debris that turn into FOD.
As for personal accessories, company rules can dictate any personal items must be secured and/or removed before entering a designated area to prevent them from becoming FOD.
Finally, many companies are adding additional inspections to their processes specifically looking for FOD before the item can move to the next production area or ship to the customer.
Manufacturers are paying more attention to FOD prevention. The losses that can be avoided are well worth the investment.
About the author: Ken Wasiuta is vice president of WB Industries (O’Fallon, MO), a custom metal fabrication company focused on aerospace and defense; construction and infrastructure; and commercial and industrial applications. WB Industries applies customer-specific requirements to its projects and works to industry standards including NASA, Boeing, AMS, AISC, IBC, ASTM and MIL specs. For more information, visit www.w-bindustries.com.
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