Published: Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Machinists strike, parts woes plague 787 line
Boeing is mum on when the Dreamliner's first flight will take place but says the Machinists' strike is largely to blame for another delay.
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Associated Press
Boeing said the first flight of its long-delayed 787 jetliner has been postponed until next year because of an eight-week strike by the Machinists union.
EVERETT -- The Boeing Co. has found another problem with its new 787 Dreamliner, which won't fly until 2009, the company confirmed Tuesday.
A couple weeks ago, during the strike, Boeing workers uncovered another issue involving 787 fasteners -- parts identified as problematic in previous delays.
The slip in the jet's schedule, however, "is really due to the Machinists' strike," said Yvonne Leach, spokeswoman for Boeing's 787 program.
Boeing Machinists began reporting to work late Sunday after 57 days on strike. Prior to the work stoppage, the 787 Dreamliner had been expected to fly by the end of the year. Boeing's Leach declined to predict when first flight will take place.
The 787 was at least 15 months behind schedule before the Machinists strike because of problems with suppliers and parts. Around 3 percent of the fasteners on the first Dreamliner and on subsequent 787s were improperly installed, said Mary Hanson, another 787 spokeswoman.
"Those will be removed and replaced," she said.
The incorrectly installed fasteners aren't contained to any one section of the aircraft, Hanson said. And the 787s in progress vary in the level of fastener troubles, she said. Boeing also asked its global partners to check their assemblies for the problem.
Boeing has determined that unclear work instruction caused employees at both Boeing and supplier sites to install the fastener improperly. The company has developed additional training and made it available to its suppliers as well as its work force in Everett.
"The specifications just weren't as clear as they could have been," Hanson said.
The company hasn't determined how long it will take to fix the problem. Some fasteners, because of their locations, may take more extensive effort to fix, such as removing insulation blankets to get to the fasteners.
Boeing previously pushed back deliveries and first flight of its 787 because of a scarcity of fasteners. Its global partners, at times, shipped assemblies with temporary fasteners in place. Workers in Everett then had to replace the temporary pieces when permanent ones came available.
But Hanson said that the supply won't hinder Boeing's ability to fix the installation issue.
"We have all the stock we need," she said.
Both Hanson and Leach stressed that the delay in the first flight was because of the Machinists' strike, not the fastener problem. Before the strike, Boeing had been slated to deliver the first 787 in the third quarter of 2009. Roughly 27,000 Machinists walked off the job Sept. 6 in a labor dispute with the company. Machinists ratified a new four-year contract offer with a 74 percent margin Saturday.
As part of the new contract, Machinists will receive a lump sum payment of at least $5,000, or 10 percent of salary, by the end of the week. Union members also can pick up their final $150 strike checks this Saturday at the Evergreen Fairgrounds in Monroe.
Boeing continued negotiations Tuesday with its second largest union, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, which represents 20,500 engineers and technical workers.
Shares of Boeing's stock closed at $53.92 Tuesday, up $1.10 for the day.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
A couple weeks ago, during the strike, Boeing workers uncovered another issue involving 787 fasteners -- parts identified as problematic in previous delays.
The slip in the jet's schedule, however, "is really due to the Machinists' strike," said Yvonne Leach, spokeswoman for Boeing's 787 program.
Boeing Machinists began reporting to work late Sunday after 57 days on strike. Prior to the work stoppage, the 787 Dreamliner had been expected to fly by the end of the year. Boeing's Leach declined to predict when first flight will take place.
The 787 was at least 15 months behind schedule before the Machinists strike because of problems with suppliers and parts. Around 3 percent of the fasteners on the first Dreamliner and on subsequent 787s were improperly installed, said Mary Hanson, another 787 spokeswoman.
"Those will be removed and replaced," she said.
The incorrectly installed fasteners aren't contained to any one section of the aircraft, Hanson said. And the 787s in progress vary in the level of fastener troubles, she said. Boeing also asked its global partners to check their assemblies for the problem.
Boeing has determined that unclear work instruction caused employees at both Boeing and supplier sites to install the fastener improperly. The company has developed additional training and made it available to its suppliers as well as its work force in Everett.
"The specifications just weren't as clear as they could have been," Hanson said.
The company hasn't determined how long it will take to fix the problem. Some fasteners, because of their locations, may take more extensive effort to fix, such as removing insulation blankets to get to the fasteners.
Boeing previously pushed back deliveries and first flight of its 787 because of a scarcity of fasteners. Its global partners, at times, shipped assemblies with temporary fasteners in place. Workers in Everett then had to replace the temporary pieces when permanent ones came available.
But Hanson said that the supply won't hinder Boeing's ability to fix the installation issue.
"We have all the stock we need," she said.
Both Hanson and Leach stressed that the delay in the first flight was because of the Machinists' strike, not the fastener problem. Before the strike, Boeing had been slated to deliver the first 787 in the third quarter of 2009. Roughly 27,000 Machinists walked off the job Sept. 6 in a labor dispute with the company. Machinists ratified a new four-year contract offer with a 74 percent margin Saturday.
As part of the new contract, Machinists will receive a lump sum payment of at least $5,000, or 10 percent of salary, by the end of the week. Union members also can pick up their final $150 strike checks this Saturday at the Evergreen Fairgrounds in Monroe.
Boeing continued negotiations Tuesday with its second largest union, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, which represents 20,500 engineers and technical workers.
Shares of Boeing's stock closed at $53.92 Tuesday, up $1.10 for the day.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
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