Updated: Boeing to shut down 787 Dreamliner production line in Everett

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Last edited Thu Oct 1, 2020, 12:53 PM - Edit history (1)

SEATTLE - Boeing confirmed Thursday it will shut down production of 787 Dreamliner jets in Everett and consolidate production of the aircraft in Charleston, S.C.

The Everett assembly line will likely close by mid-2021, according to the company's best estimate.

The decision comes as the aerospace giant continues to address the devastating effects of COVID-19 on the aviation industry. Airlines have seen huge drops in the number of paying passengers and have cut back on new airplane purchases accordingly.

Boeing officials said the consolidation is necessary as the company reduces production of the Dreamliner from 10 per month to six per month. They also emphasize that the company will continue to operate several other aircraft production lines in the Puget Sound region.

-snip-

The Charleston facility also has lower labor costs and lower overall production costs, which will allow Boeing to remain profitable.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/boeing-to-shut-down-787-dreamliner-production-line-in-everett/ar-BB19C0eg?ocid=hplocalnews

The South Carolina plant also has quality control problems. You get what you pay for.
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Thousands of Boeing workers in the Puget Sound region are learning that the future of the 787 Dreamliner production line in Everett may have reached its end.

Reuters and the Wall Street Journal are reporting that Boeing will stop making Dreamliners in Everett and consolidate production of the widebody jet in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Both news outlets cited unidentified Boeing sources for their reports, which offered no specific timeline about when the move would happen, how many employees would be affected or whether unionized machinists and engineers in Everett would be offered non-union jobs at the South Carolina plant.

An announcement about the factory consolidation could come as part of Boeing's upcoming third-quarter earnings conference call in October, and it would trigger what aerospace analyst Dhierin Bechai said in a report would be "multibillion charges that will make the Boeing 737 Max liabilities look small."

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2020/09/30/boeing-787-dreamliner-proudction-consolidation.html

Inslee vows 'hard look' at Boeing tax deals, state leaders slam reported Dreamliner move

Washington state political and labor leaders joined forces Wednesday to harshly criticize Boeing amid reports that the jet maker intends to move all 787 Dreamliner jet manufacturing from Everett to South Carolina.

Boeing neither confirmed nor denied the move and seemed more focused on a Federal Aviation Administration event in Seattle that saw Steve Dickson, the aviation safety regulator's top official, fly the made-in-Renton 737 Max himself to assess its safety now that the jet maker has made upgrades.

Gov. Jay Inslee, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, Sen. Maria Cantwell, Rep. Suzan DelBene, state Labor Council President Larry Brown and Port of Everett CEO Lisa Lefeber all issued public statements after the news broke in reports from Reuters and the Wall Street Journal.

Gov. Inslee issued a searing statement, suggesting he was kept in the dark by Chicago-based company.

If the Wall Street Journal report is accurate, Boeing would be turning its back on the finest workers and the best place in the world to build airplanes. Washington state has supported the company with a well-trained workforce, a robust supply line, unparalleled infrastructure, world-class research institutions and the best business climate in America.

If this report is true, it would force a review of that partnership, including a hard look at the company’s favorable tax treatment. While Washington would continue to have more than 70,000 aerospace employees, this move could jeopardize as many as 1,000 Washington jobs.

We have asked the Boeing Company multiple times what it needs to keep 787 production in Washington. We’ve heard nothing back. Nor have we heard anything about how to restart this work when conditions improve. This move would signal an allegiance to short-term profits and Wall Street — not quality, safety and a vision for the future of the industry.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2020/09/30/boeing-move-787-dreamliner-everett-south-carolina.html?ana=e_sea_bn_breakingnews_breakingnews&j=90530752&t=Breaking%20News&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTmpOa00yWmhNalZrWlRrdyIsInQiOiJEbEU4MngxR096empESG9cL0JOc3JwbVwvdXdLR0J0djljT3dma2h6bE1RZG8wVm90aEtvQzNBdmVRXC8yMFFXYzduUTU2VzBJK2RFZVk0Nks0eVJscW9YT243NmQyV2sxOVNIQlFLRTJKcWpkTHphcUZ6cnBWclNNR3RCUnRaMXI1WSJ9

[regnaD kciN]

1. What it will take to keep 787 production in Washington...

Implement "right to work" laws so that Boeing can break their union contract and start using unskilled minimum-wage workers like they have in South Carolina.

Incidentally, the difference in workmanship is so dramatic, there have been reports that some airlines will only accept 787s built in Everett.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. Indeed

In August, Boeing abruptly instructed airlines to pull eight of its 787s from service, after manufacturing defects were found in their fuselages. The defects could have caused the fuselage to fail in flight.

All of the sections where the suspected problems arose were manufactured in South Carolina. The sections were flown to Everett for final assembly.

There was word that the shimming issue had been a long-term problem at the South Carolina plant. And it was a key point when considering a consolidation.

https://mynorthwest.com/2196960/boeing-787-dreamliner-production-south-carolina/

[msongs]

2. boeing should pay back all the breaks and incentives taxpayers gave it in washington nt