'Changes…Need to Happen,' Boeing Official Says

In the wake of incidents related to aircraft safety, the manufacturer now focusing on reducing use of ‘traveled work.’

Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 02:17 PM ET

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Boeing is making efforts to improve the quality and safety of its aircraft production line, according to a company official. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing's CFO acknowledges the urgent need for significant improvements in aircraft quality and safety following recent incidents, committing to diligent and expeditious changes.
To achieve this, Boeing is deliberately slowing down 737 production rates and eliminating "traveled work" (unfinished work moving through the factory) to prioritize getting production right over speed.
The company is also enhancing supply chain quality control, refusing to accept non-conforming parts from suppliers like Spirit AeroSystems, thereby pushing quality checks upstream.

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Boeing is making efforts to improve the quality and safety of its aircraft production line, according to a company official.

“There’s changes that need to happen,” Brian West, Boeing’s chief financial officer, said Wednesday in addressing the Bank of America Global Industrials Conference in London. “There’s no doubt about it. But we’re going to do so diligently and expeditiously.”