Summary Boeing's weekly factory shutdowns contribute to its focus on safety and quality control. In response to safety issues, Boeing has implemented leadership changes, extensive quality control checks, and increased employee involvement. Boeing acquired Spirit AeroSystems with the aim of ensuring improved aviation safety.
Boeing is the largest aerospace company in the world. According to Statistica , the company’s 2023 revenue was US$77.8 billion.
In comparison, Airbus brought in US$70.8 billion. In recent years, however, Boeing has experienced several safety concerns and incidents.
These problems have primarily involved its 737 MAX aircraft, but other production issues have occurred with the 787 . In response to these incidents and the negative press surrounding them, Boeing has implemented several major changes. While many of these adjustments have been made very public, such as replacing its president and CEO this year, others are less known.
Simple Flying’s Jonathan Hardy attended recent sessions at Boeing, where representatives discussed some of the new policy changes and explained how they hoped to ensure safety and product control moving forward. One interesting revelation from the sessions is that Boeing implements weekly factory shutdowns to hold employee feedback sessions, provide additional or modified training, and allow for in-depth quality control inspections. Other recent changes, such as acquiring Spirit AeroSystems, were also discussed.
Weekly shutdowns.