Quality Assurance Assessment of the F-35 Lightning II Program
Abstract
Objective: We performed an evaluation of the F-35 Lightning II Program (F-35 Program) by conducting a series of quality assurance assessments of the Joint Program Office, prime contractor, and major subcontractors. We assessed conformity to the contractually required Aerospace Standard (AS)9100, "Quality Management Systems - Requirements for Aviation, Space and Defense Organizations," contractual quality assurance clauses, and internal quality assurance processes and procedures for the following six contractors: * Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth, Texas (Prime Contractor and Aircraft Integrator); * Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, El Segundo and Palmdale, California (Center Fuselage Integrator); * BAE Systems, Samlesbury, United Kingdom (Aft Fuselage Integrator); * L-3 Display Systems, Alpharetta, Georgia (Panoramic Cockpit Display System); * Honeywell Aerospace, Yeovil, United Kingdom (On-Board Oxygen Generation System); and * United Technologies Corporation, Aerospace Systems, Fort Worth, Texas, and Independence, Ohio (Landing Gear System). Findings The F-35 Program did not sufficiently implement or flow down technical and quality management system requirements to prevent the fielding of nonconforming hardware and software. This could adversely affect aircraft performance, reliability, maintainability, and ultimately program cost. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (Lockheed Martin) and its subcontractors did not follow disciplined AS9100 Quality Management System practices, as evidenced by 363 findings, which contained 719 issues.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA591268
Entities
People
- Randolph R. Stone
Organizations
- Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense