As Boeing works to improve quality, it’s in talks to buy one of its key suppliers. NPR spoke to workers at the Spirit AeroSystems factory in Wichita, Kansas that builds the fuselage for the 737.
WICHITA — It takes more than 200,000 fasteners to hold a Boeing 737 together, and many of them are installed manually by mechanics at Spirit AeroSystems.
“It makes your heart sink,” said Hamm. “Everybody's got family on these planes. We don't want no incidents at all. We want the best quality we can out of this place, and no defects. We don't want nobody hurt.” Since then, the FAA has capped production of the 737, and Spirit is only turning out roughly 30 fuselages per month.There’s a new push to make sure all the work is right — before the fuselage moves to the next station in the factory, he said, cutting down on what people in the industry call traveled work.“We will only accept — they will only ship — a conforming fuselage,” CEO Dave Calhoun said in an interview with CNBC from Boeing’s factory in April.
NPR spoke to nine former and current Spirit employees for this story. Some told us that quality at the Wichita plant had been declining for years, as finance experts replaced engineers in the ranks of management. But some former and current Spirit employees say there’s still more hard work ahead. They say the company lost experienced workers to layoffs and early retirement when production was slowed after
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Families of victims who died in Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes urge DOJ to prosecute BoeingFamilies of those who died in two deadly Boeing crashes are pushing the Department of Justice to prosecute Boeing on criminal charges.
Read more »
Boeing executives unlikely to be charged over 737 MAX crashes, source saysBoeing executives unlikely to be charged over 737 MAX crashes, source says
Read more »
737 crash families make final appeal to hold Boeing accountableIn a meeting held Friday, families of those who died in two fatal 737 Max crashes told the Justice Department holding Boeing accountable will make flying safer for everyone.
Read more »
DOJ says Boeing broke deal that avoided prosecution after 2 fatal 737 Max crashesProsecutors told a judge Boeing had broken its three years of probation after the crashes, which ended days after January's 737 Max door-plug blowout.
Read more »
DOJ says Boeing broke deal that avoided prosecution after 2 fatal 737 Max crashesProsecutors told a judge Boeing had broken its three years of probation after the crashes, which ended days after January's 737 Max door-plug blowout.
Read more »
Justice Dept. to prosecute Boeing in 737 Max crashes, finds it broke dealBoeing violated an agreement that allowed it to avoid criminal charges following two fatal 737 Max crashes, prosecution of which has been on hold since 2021.
Read more »