Boeing meets jet production rates with less experienced workers

Published 1:17 pm Thursday, February 23, 2012

Boeing’s fast-paced hiring spree has been good for Puget Sound area workers, but it also has meant the company has considerable number of workers with little experience.

The company, which is increasing production across its jet programs, added 11,000 workers in the Puget Sound area last year, Pat Shanahan, Boeing’s senior vice president for airplane programs, said during a conference Thursday.

Boeing added a net total of 8,361 jobs in Washington last year. The company needed not only to add more workers but also replace those who retired.

On Thursday, Shanahan noted that one in four Boeing production workers has 18 months or less experience.

“We’ve brought on quite a bit of new people,” he said.

Boeing has programs to bring new workers up to speed and allow soon-to-retire Machinists to pass along their knowledge to the next generation.