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I get so frustrated sometimes

What does it say about the state of manufacturing in the US, when the requirements for identifying parts are more onerous then are the requirements for producing those parts?

For most parts, identification is a simple task. The most common method being simple ink stamping, like stamping a piece of paper with a notary stamp, but for the new F35 (Joint Strike Fighter) aircraft it's anything but simple.

The identification of parts for the F35 aircraft can only be performed by suppliers specifically approved by the prime contractor (Lockheed), and requires laser etching the identification on a plate which is attached to the part.

LASER ETCHING! Why in the world is that necessary? What's wrong with rubber stamping?

So anyways, I decide fine, we'll send the parts out to be identified. It's not a big problem for us. All we have to do is tell the approved supplier what information to laser etch, and we're done.

But them I'm told the first part has to be identified differently from the subsequent parts. I could identify the first part the same [laser etch], but that requires "a white paper for approval per ...."

Give me a freakin' break! I'm not submitting anything. I don't even know what a "white paper" is. And why in the world do I need to submit a white paper for approval to identify the first part, and not for subsequent parts?

Doesn't make any sense to me, but then again, what do I know? I'm just a metallurgist with 30+ years experiencing making parts for the aerospace industry. Of course maybe that's my problem. How's that old saying go
you can't teach and old dog new tricks.

And I'm not even going to mention the other customer who is trying to blame us, for some failing mechanical properties,when the real problem is they didn't heat treat the parts optimally.
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