Boeing recently conveyed to its workforce an adjustment in the projected increase of production and deliveries for the new 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This adjustment is primarily attributed to shortages of “a few key parts” from suppliers. This decision comes in the wake of Boeing’s prior alteration of delivery schedules and production rates for its 737 Max planes, prompted by a significant incident in January where a door plug dislodged mid-flight.
The aerospace giant had been actively working on ramping up the output of 787 Dreamliners following a hiatus in deliveries due to quality concerns, which spanned nearly two years and concluded in mid-2022. Scott Stocker, serving as the vice president and general manager of Boeing’s South Carolina 787 plant, emphasized in a memo to staff the ongoing efforts to fortify the overall health of their production system. These efforts include implementing employee-generated ideas to enhance safety, quality, training, workflow efficiency, and resource allocation.
Despite these endeavors, Boeing continues to grapple with supplier shortages, necessitating a revised expectation for a slower pace of production and deliveries. Nevertheless, Stocker reiterated Boeing’s commitment to steadily increasing production rates in response to strong demand.
Prior to the adjustment, Boeing was manufacturing approximately five 787 Dreamliners per month. In January, they expressed intentions to accelerate production to up to 10 per month by next year, underscoring the company’s ambitious goals in meeting market demand.
As Boeing prepares to release its quarterly financial results, scheduled before the market opens on Wednesday, investors and industry observers anticipate further insights into the company’s production strategies and their implications. This announcement marks another chapter in Boeing’s ongoing efforts to navigate challenges in its aircraft production and delivery operations while maintaining its commitment to safety, quality, and meeting customer demand.