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Boeing’s Quality Improvements in 737 Max Production
Discover how Boeing is enhancing the quality of 737 Max production with innovative improvements to ensure safety and efficiency in the aircraft manufacturing process.
Boeing has reported significant advancements in the quality of the 737 Max production following a concerning incident in January where one of the planes lost a panel during an Alaska Airlines flight. Although the incident did not lead to major injuries, it raised fresh worries about Boeing’s aircraft quality, especially after the tragedies of the two fatal crashes that occurred more than five years ago.
In response to the incident, Boeing has implemented various changes to enhance quality and safety. These changes include expanding training programs, simplifying plans and procedures, and reducing defects from suppliers. Elizabeth Lund, a Boeing executive, shared during a press briefing at the Renton factory in Washington that the 737 Max had left the plant missing four critical bolts securing the panel, known as a door plug.
One of the key improvements made by Boeing since January is the introduction of a more rigorous inspection process for the bodies of 737 Max planes before they are transported to Renton for final assembly. The bodies are manufactured in Wichita, Kansas, by Spirit AeroSystems, a supplier soon to be acquired by Boeing.
This new inspection procedure, implemented a few months ago, has resulted in a significant reduction in major defects that need rectification at Boeing’s factory, according to Ms. Lund, Boeing’s senior vice president for quality in the commercial airplane division. The enhanced supplier inspections have also streamlined the production process at Boeing’s factory, enabling faster assembly of the 737 Max planes upon the bodies’ arrival.
Due to limitations imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration on production rates following the January incident, Boeing is currently manufacturing fewer planes than initially planned. Ms. Lund mentioned, “We’ve strengthened our presence at the supplier, we ensure the parts are perfect where they ship, we inspect them there, they rework them there, and then we ship the parts. The benefits have been really tremendous.”