Boeing is working towards stabilizing 737 MAX production at 38 airplanes a month in the coming months, as stated by Doug Ackerman, the Vice President of Quality for Commercial Airplanes at Boeing. This decision comes after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration imposed a cap on production at 38 airplanes a month following a mid-air panel blowout incident in a nearly new 737 in January 2024.
In the past, Boeing’s monthly production of the 737 MAX fluctuated between the teens and thirties, but the company has faced numerous crises and controversies that have impacted its finances, employee morale, and public trust. With losses of nearly $12 billion last year, Boeing is looking to increase 737 production to generate more revenue.
Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that Boeing is on track to produce around 38 737 airplanes this month, although a Boeing spokesperson declined to comment on the production rate for May. CEO Kelly Ortberg has emphasized the importance of proving the ability to maintain production at this level for an extended period before requesting the FAA to lift the production cap.
Once production stabilizes, Boeing plans to resume work on adding a fourth production line. The company is making progress on all six production quality and safety metrics established by Boeing and regulators, as highlighted in the annual Chief Aerospace Safety Officer Report released recently. The report also shows a significant increase in safety concerns reported by employees through the Speak Up reporting system, with ongoing improvements being implemented to enhance the program’s effectiveness.
One notable change includes having impartial managers from different sections evaluate safety concerns rather than those directly involved in the work in question. Additionally, Boeing is utilizing machine learning to identify quality issues in its supply chain before they escalate. While still in the refinement stage, this approach has shown statistical correlations between data and the likelihood of supply chain issues, as noted by Ackerman.
Overall, Boeing is focused on improving production quality, safety, and efficiency to address the challenges it has faced in recent years and regain trust in its aircraft manufacturing processes.
