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A complex research project with little or no applicability to the problem at hand.
Screwed the pooch - To lose something expensive through negligence. Said by Gus Grissom when he opened the Mercury hatch, and the capsule sank.
1. A reference piece of hardware that is not intended for field use. 2. a piece of hardware that never quite works.
To visit a customer or subcontractor to show interest or activity, rather than to accomplish something important. A top executive will drop into an important review or meeting to 'show the flag' or indicate their involvement or interest in a project.
Environmental testing, which consists of vibration and thermal cycle testing. Other test are often involved.
A common type of vacuum tube used in the 50's & 60's. Implies obsolete equipment."Yeah, that IBM Mainframe uses a bunch of 6SN7's."
Silly wild ass guess. Less accurate than a ROM.
Making an estimate based on a laughably optimistic set of assumptions. Often requires a Nobel quality breakthrough to realize.
A supplier of components, particularly items that require some special design or include NRE.
The person with overall technical responsibility for a system or program. Usually has some sort of Engineering degree. Reports to the program manager.
A group of experts, not on the program, called in to solve difficult problems. Often this is helpful.
A problem with no immediate answer, but which does not have to be solved today. "Right now we'll put the cold fusion battery into the 'too hard' pile."
A supplier of components, particularly catalog or off-the-shelf items.
Equipment works fine until visitors arrive for a demo, then it promptly fails. Often, it will begin to work again as soon as the visitor heads to the airport.
- Common method of presenting information in the industry. Charts can be used to easily gloss over problems, or bury the audience in mind numbing detail.
To authorize payment for all over time hours worked. Very unusual.
A schedule chart with all activities proceeding in a uniform manner. Mostly indicates a pleasing 'look' to the chart rather than any significant.
To modify a PCB after manufacture by soldering white wire on it. For some reason, only white wire is used, despite the rainbow of colors available.
A corporate bigwig. Goes around a lot. Throws crap on the fenders.
To stand with ones hands in ones pockets."Oh, I see you have your Martin work gloves on."
A common response when someone is asked the status of a project the he has forgotten about. "We are still working the power supply overheating issue".
The ratio of people working to those watching, supervising, drinking coffee, etc. Normaly expressed as watchers to workers, e.g. 7 to 1.
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