Military Specifications for Critical Threaded Products

摘要

This audit of military specifications for critical class 3 threaded products was performed to address House Committee on Armed Services concerns that the Military Departments were not utilizing revised military specifications. Class 3 threaded products include nuts and bolts and other parts used for aerospace applications requiring very high fatigue and stress levels. On July 25, 1991, the Air Force, as the DoD preparing activity for class 3 threaded products specifications, issued revised military specifications, MIL-S- 8879C and MIL-S-7742D. The revisions were to make thread inspection more stringent and thereby increase weapon systems safety and reliability. The Air Force revised the specifications based on evidence indicating that inspections did not adequately verify that threaded products in DoD inventories were acceptable. The original audit objective was to determine whether contracting officers were properly including the most recent revised class 3 thread military specifications in aerospace production and spare parts contracts. The original audit objective was expanded to assess how selected prime contractors applied the revised military specifications. The audit also evaluated the effectiveness of internal controls applicable to the objectives.