Looking Ahead To Manufacture Of The 787-10

Boeing officials in South Carolina are confident that the plant is ready for both a ramp up in production to 12 Dreamliners per month and the move of the 787-10 to the final assembly process in the North Charleston facility.

Boeing's VP and general manager in South Carolina Beverly Wyse told the Post and Courier newspaper that she expects the transition to be a smooth one, but “as always, there may be issues along the way so we include buffer in our schedules so that we are able to accommodate them. We’re monitoring and working closely with the supply chain as we go through that.”

Boeing will boost the number of Dreamliners it produces each month from 10 to 12, with some being built in South Carolina and some in Everett, WA. The first -10 variant is expected to move to the final assembly line in October. The -10 will be built exclusively in North Charleston.

There were some supply chain issues in SC in 2013 when the company made the increase to 10 airplanes per month just as it was beginning final assembly on the -9 variant of the Dreamliner, but Wyse says that will not happen again. She said she is confident that the staffing levels this time are adequate, and that the people on board have the necessary training to make the transition go smoothly.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.boeing.com