The method validateColumns in Table throws an exception when it encounters a missing column. Each time I encounter this problem, I have to start the debugger and create a breakpoint to identify the which table that has the missing column.

So instead of:

if ( columnInfo == null ) {
throw new HibernateException( "Missing column: " + col.getName() );
}

Add proper context to the Exception:

if ( columnInfo == null ) {
throw new HibernateException( "Table:"+this+has " missing column: " + col.getName() );
}

This will make it trivial to identify and correct the bogus mapping or schema.