What is Foreign Object Damage?
The acronym “FOD” is used in manufacturing and the aviation industries to describe “Foreign Object Debris”. FOD is any agent, object, particle, or type of debris foreign to the manufacturing environment which could contaminate or otherwise undermine the quality of the product or manufacturing standards. “FOD” is also used to describe “Foreign Object Damage” in situations where this type of unwanted debris has compromised the quality, function, or economic value of a product.
Where does FOD come from?
Most frequently, FOD damage is caused by tools, hardware misplaced in an aircraft during production and maintenance, garbage, bird strikes, stones, hail, ice, or bolts and metal shavings left on runways.
What is the impact of FOD?
It is estimated that FOD costs the aerospace industry some US$4 billion per year causing expensive, significant damage every year to aircraft and may cause death and injury to workers, pilots and passengers.
What is a Shadowbox?
A tool box with specific, marked locations for each tool so that a missing tool will be readily noticeable.
What is Tool Accountability?
The primary objective of a positive tool accountability program is to eliminate accidents/incidents and loss of life or equipment due to tool FOD.
There are numerous methods to facilitate accountability: use of shadow boards, shadowboxing, bar coding, special layouts with tool pockets, tool counters, chit system tool tags, or consolidated tool kits.
Unique control methods should be implemented for special tools used in checkout, test and operational environments.
Tools/equipment should be contained in a tote tray, soft tool bag or other suitable spill-proof container and not placed in a manner that would cause damage to flight hardware or injury to personnel.