Boeing Designers Come Up With Innovative Ways To Collaborate Worldwide

Boeing has built a worldwide network of designers and vendors to build the 7E7 Dreamliner. The question is, how do you get everyone on the same page?

Online, baby, online.

So says the Wichita Eagle, quoting engineers from Boeing's plant there in Kansas. To cut down on travel costs and to provide the fullest possible communications on a moment's notice, Boeing and its partners have set up "collaboration rooms." In cyberspace suites, they can communicate by voice, text or videophone.

So instead of sending someone from Wichita to Japan or Russia, Boeing can now schedule online conferences, where engineers can share graphics, look each other in the eye and have real conversations.

"The intent is to create the ability to work many miles apart," said Bob Waner, Boeing vice president of engineering, in an interview with the Eagle.

How much does all this cost? Boeing won't say. But in an era when the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer is relying more and more on partners around the world, company executives are pretty sure the investment will pay off.

FMI: www.boeing.com