[Steven W.]

Kobe Steel data scandal to delay restart of four nuclear reactors
Kobe Steel sent products with tampered data to second nuclear company
Kobe Steel Scandal Could Rattle US Nuclear Industry

This is a MAJOR scandal ... they also make parts for CENTRIFUGES (think Iran) and supply parts to subcontractors for numerous companies (including defense contractors i.e. Boeing)

[Cboldt]

The nuclear industry is especially data/traceability driven, so errors in paperwork will hold up startup, even when the fabrication is completely up to snuff.

I know my remarks appear to defend Kobe, but they aren't meant so much for that, as to make the point that the details make the difference, and some generic "fudged quality records" is vague - all we can do from the vague statement is speculate about the ramifications.

And I completely agree that the nuclear industry is or would be thrown into turmoil; and that safety-critical uses on airframe would have similar ramifications.