fdr's post of
historic incident with Boeing and their sub contractors. Indeed, the latter was caught with their pants down on a Swat style inspection. The specifications for those rings was to an accuracy of 3,000 th of an inch., but were being hand honed with what looked like sanding blocks. Some aircraft had the rings so tight they were hammered into place and it seems, marked with colour to show where. The treatment of those women left me breathless, though I don't know why in the poisonous culture Boeing had allowed to flourish.
Last time that occurred, the Renton QA Staff visited the supplier to Boeing who was doing the ring frames for the NG, and noted that the frames which the production approvals had been based on CAM milling, were being done by hand, over an unapproved homemade jig. The supplier had stated the components were CAM fabricated, and they didn't own a CAM unit. Upshot, Boeing sacked the QA inspectors, and Boeing actually won in court against wrongful dismissal action by the inspectors. The FAA did... nothing. The bogus parts are still flying around today.