Taken as a whole, their accounts portrayed a dangerously underfunded program that forced researchers to rely on substandard parts and questionable procedures, and had little public accountability under an unclear and divided chain of command.
"The No. 1 problem that killed us on this project was substandard parts," Mr. Nowinski said.
It accused VSI, which is a subsidiary of Fairchild Industries Inc., of skimping on tests and inspections, sometimes even delivering substandard parts, to increase profits.
The indictment said Herco manufactured substandard parts for T-38 jets, used by astronaut-pilots to maintain their flying proficiency and to transport NASA crew members.
The substandard parts were made from 1988-1993 by Hughes Industries of Cinnaminson as part of a $13.4 million contract with the tank's main contractor, the land systems division of General Dynamics, Robert A. Farkas, the assistant United States attorney who prosecuted the case, said.
Some officials at the state-financed company that designs nuclear power plants were also indicted on charges of taking bribes from testing company officials in return for accepting those substandard parts.
Volkswagen has been able to reach international quality standards for cars made in China, Mr. Leissner said, but only because suppliers sometimes must discard large numbers of substandard parts, which drives up costs.
Error or delay in diagnosis or in treatment, and information or surveillance problem were considered as parts of a "substandard care" category (i.e. procedures not performed according to standard of care).
It can't modify a substandard business process.
A substandard kit brings the company a $25 fine.
This leaves bank customers with a substandard service," he said.
