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Nearly a year after a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 aircraft, Boeing says it has made strides improving safety for airline passengers.
The company announced Friday that it focused on four main categories of improvements: elevating safety and quality culture, investing in workforce training, simplifying manufacturing processes and plans, and eliminating defects.
Boeing has faced several safety incidents over the past few years, including two crashes of Boeing 737 Max jets that killed every passenger on board, and a door plug blowout that sent passengers’ clothing and cell phones flying through a gaping hole in the plane’s fuselage as air from the cabin rushed out. After the latter incident, multiple whistleblowers came forward, alleging that questionable parts were used on the assembly line, among other potential hazards.
Boeing set a goal last year to turn around quality, but that was interrupted by a door plug problem. The International Association of Machinists union went on strike in September, lasting two months and proving to be the costliest labor action in the United States in over 25 years, ending in November.
Just days ago, another of Boeing’s planes crashed, killing 179 passengers and crew members. Outgoing FAA chief Mike Whitaker wrote in a blog post that a long-term fix is needed, stating that a cultural shift at Boeing is required, prioritizing safety and quality over profits.
Boeing announced it has addressed over 70% of commercial airplane production “action items” based on employee feedback, invested in its “speak up” system, and developed a new “move ready” criteria for its final assembly lines. The company has also invested in more training, including mandatory product safety and quality training for all employees. Mechanics and quality inspectors will also have to stamp their names on completed work. Despite public concern, analysts believe that Boeing’s reputation will recover, but it may take time.
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