Sadly, Sean, I'm not surprised ... how many of us have been prevented by the bean-counters from carrying out "unnecessary" (in their view) maintenance over the years? You know, those dudes who liked to sing the praises of "Lean" processes, "Just In Time" supply chains and so forth.
Or even, how many of us have been laughed at for endlessly banging the "PM drum"?
In my experience, even during my time "in green" (
khaki?) back in the 1970's and 80's, a lot of "senior" people only paid lip service (at best) to it* - accusing people like me of "making a meal of it", being "over the top",
etc., etc.Chickens coming home to roost, Mate (as they always do, eventually).
But (on a positive note) at least that article illustrates the need for checking out kit on its arrival! And to be honest, it sounds like in many cases the problems were only relatively minor (as in "depleted batteries").
I'm now guessing that some of the servicing companies are going to be in a position to gain some lucrative (albeit short-term) contracts.
* "it" being the checking - and servicing - of equipment (including field x-ray sets, and so forth) held in "reserve".
Make sure that the stockpile isn't in fact (or doesn't become) a dogpile!
