tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post2235252695942832919..comments2024-02-12T06:03:29.056-05:00Comments on Flightblogger: Boeing faces hurdles, opportunities on the road to an on-time 787 entry into serviceJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09177798909308931638noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-85648138979061109672007-09-01T13:02:00.000-04:002007-09-01T13:02:00.000-04:00Seattle times reports that further delays will be ...Seattle times reports that further delays will be announced on wednesday, stay tuned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-63753856226660156952007-08-28T16:29:00.000-04:002007-08-28T16:29:00.000-04:00The structural work alone on #1 will last at least...The structural work alone on #1 will last at least till the end of the year in my opinion. Unless fasteners start falling from the sky. Look on the bright side. Airbus was 2 years late, and they're still in business.<BR/>The problems start in the training, get everyone certified to do everything hydraulics,wiring,structures, etc. before they have proven they can do anything. Recipie for disaster hundrends of unexperienced, low-paid works who think they have the right to inspect they're own work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-32134425032445150812007-08-23T14:31:00.000-04:002007-08-23T14:31:00.000-04:00QUOTE "...a butt splice. It was discovered that it...QUOTE "...a butt splice. It was discovered that it wasn't made to specifications. And there just finding this out now?..."<BR/><BR/>In fact, yes - we are always finding this out now. That is why a non-conformance and MRB process exists. We have a team of people that do just that. Fix problems. This writer must have an N on his badge (less than 3 years at Boeing). <BR/><BR/>To say "Quality Inspection isn't value added" needs to be followed up with the statement - "When quality is built into the product". The FAA is fully on-board with the process.<BR/><BR/>Velocity is slowly coming up to the task. It is a system new to commercial A/P's, but has been in use for years at other Boeing sites. Given the advantage of instant fixes and revisions, I'll take it over any other system any day.<BR/>The shear volume of planning required to build a jetliner IS currently overwelming the system (and the people to a great degree) but these truly are just growing pains.<BR/><BR/>Yes - this could have been managed better - at all levels. No one anticipated the amount of travelled work that would show up, and shame on them for missing it. <BR/><BR/>That said, a whole lot of people are working a whole lot of hours to get it right. I applaud them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-66354863789968212622007-08-23T14:06:00.000-04:002007-08-23T14:06:00.000-04:00Who ever left the 1:57pm comment please email me a...Who ever left the 1:57pm comment please email me at flightblogger (at) gmail (dot) com at your convenience.<BR/><BR/>Thank you.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177798909308931638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-90161250440110345662007-08-23T13:57:00.000-04:002007-08-23T13:57:00.000-04:00As of last Sunday, the factory was removing a majo...As of last Sunday, the factory was removing a major titanium frame member at a butt splice. It was discovered that it wasn't made to specifications. And there just finding this out now? <BR/><BR/>That's what you get when Boeing makes a statement in the 787 Lean Manufacturing Program that, "Quality Inspection isn't value added"! Not sure where the FAA is on this. <BR/><BR/>Pushing production to roll out an incomplete aircraft on a date that coincides with the model number was the dumbest thing Boeing has ever done. That decision alone has cost the program millions of dollars in rework and probably delayed the project at least six months. <BR/><BR/>Add to that, all the other new and untried programs and systems that are being used in the build process, was a recipe for disaster, when trying to build a new aircraft in record time. <BR/><BR/>The new "paperless" recording and validation program called Velocity, used to assist the assembler in the build process doesn't work and only adds to the problems. <BR/><BR/>Boeing management has fumbled this program badly and should be held accountable for the gross incompetence but we all know corporate America doesn't work this way. Hell, give them a raise and bonus!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-16785342594077176692007-08-23T13:45:00.000-04:002007-08-23T13:45:00.000-04:00Quote: "spounting off the benefits of lean manufac...Quote: "spounting off the benefits of lean manufacturing, the empty shell roll out probably should not have happened in my opinion."<BR/>.<BR/>I seriously think the once in a decade opportunity to utilize the 7/8/7 date was of a greater value in publicity than a value to lean manufacturing. Besides, the first of anything is not used in the practice of lean manufacturing since it is considered the baseline. We can only go up from there!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-20908857556701348602007-08-23T01:17:00.000-04:002007-08-23T01:17:00.000-04:00Being someone that works in continuous improvement...Being someone that works in continuous improvement and someone who is always spounting off the benefits of lean manufacturing, the empty shell roll out probably should not have happened in my opinion. Even more so considering how often Boeing is shown in Lean manufacturing materials. To put the plane together, take it apart is a truly wasteful process, regardless of how much was actually missing on 7/8/7. How much it actually impacted the schedule is probably not significant, but it sure doesn't seem like Boeing's well known philosophy.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10544690331890645835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-23771259748455985872007-08-22T06:42:00.000-04:002007-08-22T06:42:00.000-04:00Thanks for keeping us updated! I have to say that ...Thanks for keeping us updated! I have to say that I really enjoy your work, both here and over on airliners.net. Its obvious that the 787 is facing some issues and hopfully they can be solved quickly. Best Regards, (EI321)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-79541575966196388422007-08-21T19:22:00.000-04:002007-08-21T19:22:00.000-04:00Hi Jon,The bottleneck in the 40-26 you refer to is...Hi Jon,<BR/>The bottleneck in the 40-26 you refer to is a non-issue. The landing gear on A/P 1 is fully functional and the airplane can be rolled out - and back in if needed. The jacking and scaffolding is for the purpose if replacing temporary fasteners. Since that is wrapping up, the plane can be moved just about anytime now.<BR/>The plan has always been to get fully stuffed sections from the partners. Boeing is having htem hold on to them until they can get the most stuffing they have available. <BR/><BR/>Oh, and I haven't heard anything about an under the cover of darkness move for the static plane. They will move it when it's ready to go - which should also be fairly soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-57859396608903616762007-08-21T15:25:00.000-04:002007-08-21T15:25:00.000-04:00Will the 787 go to Williams Gateway Airport for ho...Will the 787 go to Williams Gateway Airport for hot testing and DEN for the high testing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-33499819636701582922007-08-21T13:41:00.000-04:002007-08-21T13:41:00.000-04:00Cool Jon, the Seattle Times quoted you today! Hop...Cool Jon, the Seattle Times quoted you today! Hope you are well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-80865349121486947242007-08-21T13:08:00.000-04:002007-08-21T13:08:00.000-04:00Leelaw.Not that I am aware of. Boeing rolled out ...Leelaw.<BR/><BR/>Not that I am aware of. Boeing rolled out an unwired airplane. Pretty rediculous and all for show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-7415342660378509862007-08-21T12:01:00.000-04:002007-08-21T12:01:00.000-04:00San Antonio is correct and it has been in the pres...San Antonio is correct and it has been in the press. SAT will be doing interior wiring work, among other things.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-83206847369781176402007-08-21T11:48:00.000-04:002007-08-21T11:48:00.000-04:00Strange proceedings indeed. Has there been anothe...Strange proceedings indeed. Has there been another instance where Boeing has found it necessary to remove/disassemble the vertical stabilizer of the "maiden aircraft" of a commercial development program once it had been formally "rolled-out?"<BR/><BR/>LeelawAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-13769111105316085342007-08-21T11:42:00.000-04:002007-08-21T11:42:00.000-04:00Jon, do you know anything about some 787's being f...Jon, do you know anything about some 787's being flown to San Antonio at some point in the future for some testing?<BR/><BR/>I got a tip about this and details were sorely lacking. Sorry about the vagueness of the question.Tim Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857824702421873032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-27243299821912267032007-08-21T09:59:00.000-04:002007-08-21T09:59:00.000-04:00Everything I read here is typical of a project (of...Everything I read here is typical of a project (of any size, but especially a very large project) approaching "crunch time". While the schedulers and project managers have known about the critical path(s) all along, the whole of the project team has assumed (as human beings always do) that it applied to someone else. Now it is coming home to them that _they_ are the weakest link and they not only need to get into 5th gear but they need to add a 6th gear to their transmission without stopping the car. This is very similar to what I saw leading up to first criticality of a new nuclear power plant in fact.<BR/><BR/>Will Boeing make their May/June dates? Only the senior project managers and executive management can even begin to guess on that at this point. Personally I thought that Boeing's schedule was a bit too ambitious given how many advances are included in this one frame. Then again I don't work for them and am not on the inside. But any talk that this project is "late", "collapsing", or "a clown show" is itself ridiculous.<BR/><BR/>sPhAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-48232167476442185782007-08-21T09:47:00.000-04:002007-08-21T09:47:00.000-04:00nice pickup in the Seattle Times todaynice pickup in the Seattle Times todayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-14655811055655065052007-08-21T09:31:00.000-04:002007-08-21T09:31:00.000-04:00Boeing ethics are alive and well. Lie, mislead, a...Boeing ethics are alive and well. Lie, mislead, and deceive.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps we misheard them; did they say "On Track" or "On Crack."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-89748798862378215642007-08-21T09:09:00.000-04:002007-08-21T09:09:00.000-04:00Obligatory - jon, you the greatest. Now, does this...Obligatory - jon, you the greatest. <BR/><BR/>Now, does this not make one wonder if the 7/8/7 show-and-tell was misguided?<BR/><BR/>Did it reinforce the LEAN concepts? <BR/><BR/>What did it show the younger generation? Spout off prior to accomplishment (acknowledging that bragging after the fact is not good either)?<BR/><BR/>Also, could queuing up based upon design, analysis and projections be short-sighted? <BR/><BR/>Can we say that #1's lessons would not ripple down the whole chain in more than just an insignificant manner? <BR/><BR/>Would we like to hear the truth from the engineers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-28022498926157472272007-08-21T08:17:00.000-04:002007-08-21T08:17:00.000-04:00DARN, you're good!!!!!DARN, you're good!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-83686413974902903272007-08-21T07:51:00.000-04:002007-08-21T07:51:00.000-04:00Another excellent and very informative report abou...Another excellent and very informative report about the progress and the challenges the 787 program faces. I’ve been following your reports here and on a.net and I just would like say to Jon how much I appreciate the great work you’re doing. Looking forward to some more excellent reporting. Jay from NL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-6749739853369864092007-08-21T06:33:00.000-04:002007-08-21T06:33:00.000-04:00Excellent report. It was written without bias one...Excellent report. It was written without bias one way or the other, which makes it much more credible. Keep up the good work!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528966332797316179.post-75124190933285812452007-08-20T23:46:00.000-04:002007-08-20T23:46:00.000-04:00great reporting, jon.great reporting, jon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com