B737 MAX Series Undifferentiated
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Manuals; Human Factors; Equipment / Tooling
We are currently in the process of returning X number of 737-MAX aircraft to service following the accomplishment of an EO. When auditing the paperwork on Aircraft Y; it was discovered that the tooling required to accomplish Step XX F.X; and F.Y was unavailable. This caused a retroactive audit of previously completed paperwork on Aircraft Z. It was determined that the tasks were stamped as accomplished in spite of the lack of available tooling. The aircraft was not in service at the time; however it was due to be released. The paperwork was pulled and the required tooling has been ordered to ensure correct accomplishment of these steps on both aircraft prior to aircraft release.The reference material uses generic three digit ATA codes (XX-XX-XX; XX-YY-XX) instead of complete ATA codes to identify applicable AMM references for a given task. Additionally; the maintenance tasks are all very similar when performed and easily confused. Furthermore the job card does not include the tooling in the bill of required materials; further obfuscating the tooling requirement. Finally; the tasks all have very similar nomenclature. You can be easily fooled into thinking you've accomplished more than one task when you have; in fact; only accomplished one; or part of another task. It is also worth noting that other similar task cards for this fleet type are significantly less vague. It appears that this card was created quickly with little mind paid to details. This is also the first time this job card has been accomplished at this station.Include the full ATA code for each task. Include the required tooling on the job card bill of materials. Add a note to Step XX  F.X and F.X indicating that tooling is required to complete these steps.
Technician reported ambiguity in AMM references for task cards resulted in not using the required tooling to return B737 MAX aircraft to service after storage.