Managing redelivery findings and the open items list (OIL)

Where findings come from

• Records audits by the lessor or its technical representative.
• Physical inspections, including borescope inspections and the final walk-around.
• The demonstration flight and ground checks.
• The operator's own review before the return.

What each finding needs

• A clear description and the requirement or return condition it affects.
• A category, records or physical, and a severity.
• An owner and a due date that fits the return schedule.
• The planned treatment: rectify, provide evidence, defer by agreement or compensate.
• Closure evidence the lessor can verify.
• An exposure estimate when the finding may cost time or money.

Running the list day to day

• Triage new findings quickly while inspections are under way.
• Escalate findings that threaten the return date or the budget.
• Keep the lessor's position next to the finding itself, not in a separate email thread.
• Close a finding only when its evidence has been accepted.

Measuring progress

• Open findings by severity and by owner.
• Findings past their due date.
• Findings waiting for the lessor's position.
• Estimated exposure that is still open.
• Findings closed in the last week, to show the trend.

Agreeing findings with the lessor

Some findings are rectified, others are closed with documents and some are settled commercially. Whatever the route, record who agreed it and when: the open items that remain, and how they will be treated, often form part of the final acceptance.