The company discovered errors in drilling holes in the fuselage of its aircraft, which threatens to delay deliveries.
"I discovered a company called Boeing." A number of errors were made in drilling holes in the fuselage of its 737 MAX aircraft, which threatens to disrupt and delay deliveries of its model in a program already restricted by regulators due to quality lapses.
Stan Deal, head of Boeing's commercial aircraft division, said in a memo to employees that one of the company's largest suppliers is to blame for the recent plane defect, as the company needs to re-repair about 50 undelivered 737 planes after improperly drilled fastening holes. .
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While the supplier responsible was not named, a spokesman for Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, the supplier that makes most of the 737 MAX fuselage, said the company is aware of the problem and will make the necessary repairs.
Dell said in a memo seen by Bloomberg that the additional time needed to conduct inspections and fix the defect could delay aircraft delivery in the near term. “This is the only course of action to fulfill our commitment to deliver perfect aircraft every time,” he added.
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The flaw comes on the heels of a series of manufacturing lapses at Boeing, including a near-catastrophic fuselage panel explosion on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX last month. The US Federal Aviation Administration intensified audits of Boeing's manufacturing systems, quality, and suppliers, and also put a ceiling on the production of 737 aircraft until quality improved.
Delayed deliveries
Boeing shares have fallen by 20% this year, recording the worst performance ever (Dow Jones Industrial Average) amid the Alaska incident and the increased scrutiny that followed. Spirit Aero, based in Pochita, Kansas, also fell 12%.
The problem revealed Sunday is the latest in a series of glitches that have arisen with Boeing's former airframe unit. Improperly drilling holes for a rear pressure bulkhead supplied by Spirit Aero slowed last year's delivery of the 737 MAX, the plane manufacturer's most in-demand and cash-flow generator. A separate problem with Boeing's tail fin assemblies also affected production earlier in 2023.
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Failure to meet company specifications
Dell said recently that a worker at a Boeing supplier pointed out that two mounting holes in the fuselage might not fully meet the company's specifications. He also stressed that the problem is not immediate and does not pose a threat to aviation safety, and all 737 aircraft can continue to operate safely.
However, Dale explained that a number of employees expressed frustration and concern about the continued impact of unfinished work, whether by supplier companies or within Boeing factories, on aircraft production lines.
To address this, Boeing recently asked a major supplier to hold shipments until all work was properly completed, he said.
“While the current shipping delays will impact our production schedule, it will improve overall quality and stability,” Dale added.
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