Japan: “We’re very sorry we got caught (again)”

Heavy machinery maker IHI Corp. said Friday it has found 211 cases of improper inspections of airplane engines over the past two years, including checks by uncertified workers. 

IHI became the latest among major Japanese manufacturers embroiled in scandals over improper quality controls of their products. Subaru Corp. and Nissan Motors Co. revealed some of their vehicles had been inspected by unqualified workers, while Kobe Steel Ltd. and Mitsubishi Materials Corp. said they had fabricated product data.

The supplier of Boeing Co. and Airbus S.A.S. said a shortage of inspectors and other factors are behind the misconduct that began at the latest in January 2017 at a factory in Tokyo where IHI provides maintenance for around 100 to 150 engines a year.