Boeing speeds "Dreamliner" production
Boeing’s new baby, the Dreamliner, is now being built at a rate of five aircraft per month.
Boeing says they increased the rate from 2.5 to 3.5 airplanes per month earlier this year and is on track to achieve a planned 10-per-month rate by late 2013. The program production rate accounts for airplanes built at Boeing South Carolina and Everett, including the Temporary Surge Line that was activated earlier this year in Everett.
Boeing points to team innovations and new tools as the reason for the speed-up. One team developed a small piece of protective equipment to cover the electronic actuators that help move the horizontal stabilizer. The plastic covering is now used across the program to protect the actuators during the production process. Boeing says that this small change has resulted in quicker production completion times.
Other new tools being deployed to improve productivity are Orbital Drilling machines. The machines are used to drill holes to attach the wings to the center fuselage section of the airplane. The drilling technique is unique in that the cutter rotates in a circular motion to carve out the hole, rather than a conventional drill that cuts straight into the material. Benefits of the machines include improved precision and time savings for mechanics. A third benefit is improved safety as the machines require lower thrust and torque.
Boeing has reason to speed production. Thirty-five 787 "Dreamliners" have been delivered to eight airlines to date and the program has more than 800 as-yet-unfilled orders for 58 customers worldwide.
Gretchen Kelly
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