Published: Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Boeing 787 suppliers play catch up; Dreamliner work in Everett continues
The Boeing Co. won't see new shipments of major 787 sections for a few weeks while its suppliers catch up.
But Dreamliner deliveries to customers, which are supposed to start later this year, won't be affected, the company said Tuesday.
A few of Boeing's major 787 partners will hold off on sending Dreamliner sections into Everett for final assembly for 24 manufacturing days, said Yvonne Leach, Boeing spokeswoman. This will allow the suppliers extra time to deal with parts shortages they're experiencing. However, work will continue in Everett on the 787s already in progress.
"We're not stopping work on the 787," Leach said.
Boeing has some wiggle room in its production schedule to allow for the change, she said.
The company plans to deliver the first 787 later this year, more than two years late. Deliveries to Dreamliner customers won't be affected by the halt in supplier shipments to Boeing, Leach said.
For the 787, Boeing depends on partners to ship major sections into Everett for final assembly.
Boeing workers in Everett have four 787s, including the 22nd airplane produced, in the factory for final assembly. Shipments for airplanes 23 and 24 will be held for three weeks at suppliers to allow those sections to be completed.
The 787 program ran into trouble two years ago when suppliers shipped incomplete sections into Everett. But Boeing's Leach said suppliers have been sending increasingly completed sections. However, if suppliers shipped sections as planned, that wouldn't continue to be the case.
Boeing continues its flight test program on its new, mostly composite 787. Four test aircraft are in the flight test program and have accumulated 518 hours in the air. Boeing plans to add two more flight test aircraft to the program this quarter.
But Dreamliner deliveries to customers, which are supposed to start later this year, won't be affected, the company said Tuesday.
A few of Boeing's major 787 partners will hold off on sending Dreamliner sections into Everett for final assembly for 24 manufacturing days, said Yvonne Leach, Boeing spokeswoman. This will allow the suppliers extra time to deal with parts shortages they're experiencing. However, work will continue in Everett on the 787s already in progress.
"We're not stopping work on the 787," Leach said.
Boeing has some wiggle room in its production schedule to allow for the change, she said.
The company plans to deliver the first 787 later this year, more than two years late. Deliveries to Dreamliner customers won't be affected by the halt in supplier shipments to Boeing, Leach said.
For the 787, Boeing depends on partners to ship major sections into Everett for final assembly.
Boeing workers in Everett have four 787s, including the 22nd airplane produced, in the factory for final assembly. Shipments for airplanes 23 and 24 will be held for three weeks at suppliers to allow those sections to be completed.
The 787 program ran into trouble two years ago when suppliers shipped incomplete sections into Everett. But Boeing's Leach said suppliers have been sending increasingly completed sections. However, if suppliers shipped sections as planned, that wouldn't continue to be the case.
Boeing continues its flight test program on its new, mostly composite 787. Four test aircraft are in the flight test program and have accumulated 518 hours in the air. Boeing plans to add two more flight test aircraft to the program this quarter.
Comments
(
