When it comes to FOD, 'many hands make light work' Published Sept. 18, 2008 By Deborah Miller 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- For years we have all heard the benefits that can be gained by getting five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. It seemed like a great idea and we always felt better if we were able to accomplish this feat. For some folks, it was a natural habit to get in those five important servings of fruits and vegetables but for others, it may have seemed that we were too busy or it was too much trouble to do what we knew to be a good thing. There is another way to "get your five" that will not only help us as an organization, but it will ensure that our customers get the best quality product we can provide. If you see a sign in the Aircraft Maintenance Group that says "Get your five today" or "What were your five?" it is just our way of reminding everyone to pick up at least five foreign objects every day. By doing this, we can eliminate thousands of items that could potentially migrate into an aircraft, engine or components worked on here at the ALC. A foreign object is anything that does not belong. In our line of work, we utilize parts, hardware, tech data, tools, documentation, personal protective equipment and many other things that help us perform depot maintenance. A tool left in a leading edge, a hat worn near an engine run operation, a bolt dropped into an engine core, a piece of scrap metal picked up by an aircraft tire; these are all common items that we see every day but when in the wrong place at the wrong time, become foreign objects which can cause foreign object damage. Imagine how clean the maintenance areas would be if everyone who saw something on the floor stopped to pick it up. Even those working in staff offices can make a difference by picking up items when they are out walking in the aisles or going to and from the building. Much of the trash that we see every day can easily migrate out onto the ramp or flight line areas and then be picked up by an aircraft engine or tire. While some instances of foreign object damage cannot be prevented (material failure is an example of this), many instances can be prevented simply by performing good checks and ensuring the area is clean. Last year, the ALC reported almost $500,000 dollars in damage due to foreign objects. This year, our rate has improved but we must be vigilant to ensure that it remains low and that we do not place our end items at risk. So, let's do the math. If 100 people pick up five items in a day, that's 500 items. If 500 people pick up five items in a day, that's 2,500 items. Now, imagine if 2,000 people pick up five items a day; that's 10,000 items that are no longer a risk to those who operate end items or utilize components produced at the ALC. Remember, it is good to get your five in order to maintain your health and it is also good to get your five in order to maintain the health of everything we work on here at Tinker. Let's make it a habit to "get our five" every day!