SC

More Boeing Dreamliner Production Issues

SOUTH CAROLINA FACILITY AGAIN UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Well, well, well … looks like Boeing’s best efforts to spin its Dreamliner production issues have failed. Reuters is exclusively reporting on more problems – which it refers to as “output hiccups” – related to production of the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer’s next-generation passenger jet,…

SOUTH CAROLINA FACILITY AGAIN UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

Well, well, well … looks like Boeing’s best efforts to spin its Dreamliner production issues have failed.

Reuters is exclusively reporting on more problems – which it refers to as “output hiccups” – related to production of the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer’s next-generation passenger jet, the 787 Dreamliner.

Specifically, the wire service has noted “unusual shifts” in the company’s supply chain related to “unfinished jobs building up as 787s move along the assembly line and partly an effort by Boeing to speed up the factories.”

Where’s the hangup?  If you guessed Boeing’s North Charleston, S.C. facility – which has experienced all sorts of problems since it was opened in 2011 – you’d be correct.

“At least 16 Italian-made fuselage sections for the 787 have stacked up in a Boeing hangar in Wichita, Kansas, rather than being shipped directly to the factory,” Reuters reported.

That would seem to confirm the wire service’s sources, who say Boeing’s 787 production issues have “gotten worse.”

“The production process did not previously involve storage of midbody section pieces in Wichita,” the Reuters’ report added.

Boeing claims the fuselages will only stay in Kansas “for a couple of weeks,” and that the “rerouting” is due to be phased out soon.

Our sources aren’t buying it …

“Everyone I know at the Boeing (S.C.) plant says the ‘turn around’ in quality and morale was B.S., and this article seems to confirms it,” one source told us.

FITS was the first news outlet in the country to report on production issues at Boeing’s North Charleston facility – which was built thanks to $1 billion in taxpayer-funded incentives doled out by Gov. Nikki Haley and state lawmakers.  Two months later, reporter Phil LeBeau – who covers automotive and aerospace issues for CNBC – confirmed much of our reporting.  More recently, The Seattle Times  and The Wall Street Journal  have referenced South Carolina’s production problems.

South Carolina lost out on the chance to build a pair of new Boeing jets – including the 737 MAX and the 777X – due to labor issues and questions about the quality of the workforce in the Palmetto State.  The North Charleston facility will build Boeing’s new extended Dreamliner – the 787-10 – although that’s because the mid-fuselages for the jet don’t fit on the “Dreamlifter” transport planes used by Boeing to ship the massive sections to its main manufacturing facility in Everett, Washington.

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65 comments

Manufacturing 101 August 11, 2014 at 3:47 pm

If Cletus and Shaniqua can build BMW’s, their experience with aluminum via Colt 45 & PBR in cans will surely translate to marrying carbon fiber to aluminum frames.

Blame management if otherwise.

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jimlewisowb August 11, 2014 at 4:28 pm

Being one who knows little about a lot and a lot about little every time I read about Boeing I come to the same conclusion.

They, Boeing in North Charleston, don’t make anything from scratch. They receive pre assembled pieces, put them together and ship out the newly assembled piece which rarely in some cases ends up as a functional airplane

I digress for a moment.

This process reminds me of the story about the young couple touring a newly built home with the builder. When they went into the kitchen the builder opened the door and yelled green side up.When they went into the den he opened the window and yelled green side up. When they went up to the Frog he opened the window and yelled green side up

Finally the wife asked him what was going on. Ma’am I have several interns from Clemson laying the sod and I need to make sure they get it right side up

Me thinks the problem with Boeing in North Charleston lies with the individuals who write the book on How to Assemble a Plane that Flies. They don’t know grass from dirt

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CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 4:37 pm

Automobile assembly plants don’t construct cars from scratch. They assemble them using compnents, e.g. engines, transmission, etc. built elsewhere. Boeing’s plant operates similarly.

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jimlewisowb August 11, 2014 at 4:47 pm

You are truly a pain in the ass

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CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 5:52 pm

sorry if facts screw up your little stories and/or lame attempts at humor. SEC Rules has revealed your problem….OHIO.

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jimlewisowb August 11, 2014 at 8:20 pm

You are still a pain in the ass

SEC Rules August 11, 2014 at 5:40 pm

Great analogy, get back up home to Ohio often?

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jimlewisowb August 11, 2014 at 8:20 pm

Home is Chapin by way of North Charleston, Moncks Corner, Aynor

All of which are part of South Carolina, not Ohio

Bless your heart

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Sandi Morals August 11, 2014 at 9:07 pm

Chapin? Scott Earley used to coach football? Golson made him look smart at MB.
Ask him about the time he(staff?) hung Tampons in the players lockers at Myrtle Beach. :-)

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Sandi Morals August 11, 2014 at 9:13 pm

Bless your heart. A football coach in OHIO is NOT a pussy. They would never try and humiliate student-athletes by playing with Tampons and the minds of children! Apparently values are/were different in Chapin.

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Native Ink August 11, 2014 at 4:37 pm

Where’s that Boeing cheerleader who claimed all the problems were fixed the last time FITS reported on this?

Anyway, maybe now we’ve learned that “cowering” underpaid employees don’t build good airplanes.

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CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 4:39 pm

“Underpaid” as compared to who? Apparently you are unfamiliar with prevailing rate blue collar wages.

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Native Ink August 11, 2014 at 4:46 pm

I thought Nikki said Boeing was going to bring good-paying jobs, not average-paying ones. If putting together lawn chairs and putting together airplanes pays the same wage, there you have your problem.

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GrandTango August 11, 2014 at 5:19 pm

Obama has lost 12 million jobs. Where TF were you when that news came out?…ooops FITS forgot to report that, so you ignorant F*#ks stay stupi., like he and the democrats want you.

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Thomas August 11, 2014 at 5:36 pm

Not only that, GT, think about the Federal tax rates.

Married/filing jointly and qualifying widow(er)s

$ 0 – $17,850….. $ 0.00 + 10% $ 0

17,850- 72,500….. 1,785 + 15% 17,850

72,500- 146,400….. 9,982.50 + 25% 72,500

146,400- 223,050….. 28,457.50 + 28% 146,400

223,050- 398,350….. 49,919.50 + 33% 223,050

398,350- 450,000….. 107,768.50 + 35% 398,350

450,000 +…..125,846 + 39.6% 450,000

CORPORATE TAX RATE

$0-$50,000….. $0.00 + 15% $0

50,000- 75,000….. 7,500.00 + 25% 50,000

75,000- 100,000….. 13,750.00 + 34% 75,000

100,000- 335,000….. 22,250.00 + 39% 100,000

335,000- 10,000,000….. 113,900.00 + 34% 335,000

10,000,000- 15,000,000….. 3,400,000.00 + 35% 10,000,000

15,000,000- 18,333,333….. 5,150,000.00 + 38% 15,000,000

18,333,333 +…..35% 0

Then the Feds and States hit you with sales taxes, personal income taxes, fees, fines, and penalties.

RogueElephant August 12, 2014 at 8:35 am

Where do you think the term “low information voter” came from ???? (DNC)

GrandTango August 12, 2014 at 9:43 am

I forgot R.E. Other than you, and couple more…this site is crawling with the LI Voters. But (because of my penchant for originality) I like to call them Convenient-Amnesia voters. FITS is the king of them.

But you are 100% right. Sorry for the oversight.

CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 5:53 pm

So what are the wages? Are they the same for the “examples” you cited?

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Bible Thumper August 11, 2014 at 5:56 pm

They got an 18 days bonus pay.

CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 6:17 pm

Native Ink (Sic Willie clone) is not interested in facts that may destroy his thesis.

Get A Clue August 12, 2014 at 9:07 am

I take it back. You are more than an idiot. You’re a joke.

CNSYD August 12, 2014 at 9:16 am

Boeing Charleston is here today and will be here tomorrow. If you are an employee and don’t like it, leave.

Outside/Inside Observations August 11, 2014 at 7:09 pm

The National Hourly Rate For Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers is $17.00 an hour.
At Boeing North Charleston, much less. Some are even less than 14 an hour. Try feeding a family on that at todays cost of living in the low country.
Morale has suffered after what Boeing’s CEO said what he said. But then, you have people who don’t want to work. They want to play on their smartphones in the bathroom stalls. They take their ever loving time to do anything. These are not just people born and raised in South Carolina, either. Many are from all over the USA. They came here looking for work because there was none in their home states.

CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 9:00 pm

You can’t base local wages on “national” rates. Blue collar wages are based on prevailing wage rates for the area. If you are looking for excuses to not work, then grousing over the CEO’s bad joke is for you. As the old saying goes, when you don’t want to do something, any excuse will do. The rest of what you describe is a management failing.

Native Ink August 11, 2014 at 10:36 pm

What local blue collar wages should we compare it to then? People who put together clocks? People who put together drive shafts? Maybe you haven’t noticed but no one else puts together airplanes in North Charleston.

CNSYD August 12, 2014 at 8:13 am

Does Boeing hire electrical/electronic workers? Do they have forklift operators? Do they have crane operators? Etc. No single workers builds an airplane. On assembly lines workers have one single or a few jobs. Simplistically it is insert bolt A and tighten to x torque. The worker most likely doesn’t even need to know how much torque as it is preset by their wrench, It really isn’t hard if you WANT to compare wages.

Get A Clue August 12, 2014 at 9:05 am

You’re an idiot.

CNSYD August 12, 2014 at 9:14 am

Sorry that facts upset you.

Get A Clue August 12, 2014 at 9:16 am

Old man. You’re still a joke.

Correctomundo! August 12, 2014 at 9:32 am

Many times you are off the mark, and you and I don’t agree…but you are correct in this instance and the name calling doesn’t help his case.

Just remember though you don’t always own the “facts”, as you post often.

In this case you are correct though.

truthmonger August 12, 2014 at 12:21 pm

In your case, factoids….

Native Ink August 12, 2014 at 5:17 pm

And that’s the problem in a nutshell. In fact, that’s been the whole story of the 787. You and Boeing management think building an airplane can be dumbed down to the point that anyone can do it and get paid cheaply. First it was the outsourcing, which was an absolute disaster. Even Boeing admits that now. Now it’s underpaid, overworked employees who are expected to “cower,” That’s not working out either.

Educate yourself to the 787 program’s history before coming here and spouting off nonsense.

truthmonger August 12, 2014 at 12:20 pm

And perhaps cost of products should mirror wages? Ooops… that would cut into bonuses and profits for the select….

truthmonger August 11, 2014 at 7:52 pm

That would be UNDERPAID compared to the REST of the NATION. You evidently aren’t familiar with prevailing blue collar wages outside of SC.

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car 54 where are u August 11, 2014 at 8:52 pm

How much did you make as a substitute teacher when ‘Johnny’ slapped the shit out of you for telling those fucking ex-cop stories? Tell that story again.

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CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 9:02 pm

Once again, prevailing rates mean exactly that. Prevailing for the area surveyed.

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Native Ink August 11, 2014 at 10:37 pm

What is the prevailing rate for airplane manufacture in Charleston? Hmmm… Whatever low bs wage Boeing decides to play.

CNSYD August 12, 2014 at 8:13 am

See response above.

Thomas August 11, 2014 at 5:07 pm

How ’bout a story on that young fella with 8 slugs in him? You know, the unarmed 18yo in St Louis? Or how ’bout that maniac Stewart maliciously with criminal intent (watch his front wheels turn into Ward’s car) forcing Ward into the wall? Then on the next lap criminally runs him over breaking just about every bone in his body?

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Landry August 11, 2014 at 5:11 pm

Tommy, stick your head back up your ass, inhale, and enjoy the view.

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Thomas August 11, 2014 at 5:18 pm

That kid did not deserve emptying a clip in him. Stewart murdered Ward. The riots in St Louis are typical of the Democrat voting base. Oh, and that choke hold in NYC? Another murder caught on film.

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Squishy123 August 12, 2014 at 9:58 pm

Sure he did, if he didn’t it wouldn’t have happened. Those two guys were such upstanding citizens, aspiring rappers I hear.

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jimlewisowb August 13, 2014 at 8:37 am

Never walked in a race car driver’s shoes and don’t have it on my bucket list

However anyone who during a race crawls outside a non burning race car, designed to provide ultimate protection, onto a race track with cars whizzing by puts himself/herself in jeopardy

As for the wheel turning business I would add that if every race car went in the direction the driver turned the wheel then there would be no need for the damn barrier walls at race tracks

Many a driver has paid the ultimate price for doing something stupid and if you want it to stop then ban all racing worldwide. While you are at it why not ban bicycling, bullfighting, speed skating, baseball, basketball, football and whoring

Many an asshole has been ventilated pulling out his dick at the wrong place at the wrong time

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Morale Sucks August 11, 2014 at 5:42 pm

I have been at Boeing for a decade. Morale sucks! I believe it will only get worse. Boeing will only be able to hide all this to the shareholders for so long…

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CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 5:55 pm

That’s why quarterly profits were up?

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TRUTHMONGER August 11, 2014 at 7:55 pm

It’s easy to show higher quarterlies even when the company is tanking. Enron ring a bell?

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CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 9:05 pm

So you have PROOF (you know what that is don’t you?) of falsified financials? And which regulatory and law enforcement agencies have you report this to?

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Guess What August 11, 2014 at 6:59 pm

You were there when it was “Vought” and “Global Aeronautics”? Even then, there were major productions problems. That is why Boeing took it all over in North Charleston.
I remember when the Italians, the Japs, and the British started showing up at the plant. Do you?

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Bryan Wqsc Crabtree August 11, 2014 at 6:06 pm

it amazes me that anyone that is a resident in the State wishes to take the tone of Seattle Newspapers who want nothing more than to make it look like the people that came from Seattle can’t build planes because geographically they are in SC. This article is disingenuous at best. They are successful beyond their wildest dreams in N. Charleston and if they were not, they wouldn’t be adding the production of the extended range craft while things are “going so bad.”

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Outside/Inside Observations August 11, 2014 at 6:55 pm

Oh really? Care to elaborate? I beg that you do!

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Native Ink August 11, 2014 at 8:29 pm

We leave to the realtors to paint pretty little rainbows around the word “Charleston.” Throw in a few pink palmetto trees. There! Image problem solved!

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CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 9:06 pm

Take I 26 west. Problem solved.

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Outside/Inside Observations August 11, 2014 at 6:53 pm

From my perspective, the “quality of the workforce” is contributed to, in part, transplants from other states – transplants moving to SC for Boeing jobs inasmuch they can’t find work in their home states. Many have little to no experience in aerospace assembly line work. They are having to be trained. And not many are going to bust their behinds for the low hourly wages Boeing pays at the North Charleston facility.
And then on another note, Charleston and the tri county area is a very expensive place to live these days. Housing is almost double the cost as the other major areas in the state, like Columbia and Greenville. Don’t preach “demand for housing ” to me. Its all fueled by greed. Landlords want more and more … real estate developers want more and more, too. Its a bad mix for low paid hourly workers in the low country. And I foresee Boeing problems from here on out. How does Boeing plan to prosper when their hourly wages are low, and the cost of living plus housing in Chuck Town is through the roof? Unionizing will only make matters worst for their employees.
All in all, something will have to give if Boeing expects to survive.

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TRUTHMONGER August 11, 2014 at 7:57 pm

i DARESAY UNIONIZING IS THE ONLY HOPE THE EMPLOYEES HAVE….. UNLESS THEIR “COWERING” SKILLS INCREASE.

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No no for the Po Po August 11, 2014 at 8:04 pm

Thank you for the caps Douchemonger, they really helped to make your case.

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CNSYD August 11, 2014 at 9:09 pm

The cost of living is up because no one wants to live in SC, right? It must be as Sic Willie tells how bad SC is over and over.

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Get A Clue August 12, 2014 at 9:15 am

Super Joke you are, bitter old man.
BTW. Closing down the Charleston Shipyard was a brilliant move.

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CNSYD August 12, 2014 at 9:38 am

Brillant move by whom? Obviously you were/are not cognizant of the situation after the Soviet Union called it a day. There was over capacity so cuts were inevitable. The only question was where. SC was in a weak position politically as we only had 2 Senators and (at that time) 6 Representatives. Due to the compactness of the New England states. Portsmouth could muster 10 Senators and 19 Representatives. So which way do you think the BRAC went?

Bitter? Personally I have fared well. So why am I bitter?

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euwe max August 11, 2014 at 9:56 pm

Damned inspections…. holding up all that profit potential.

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Fools in South Carolina Boeing August 12, 2014 at 7:54 am

I work at Boeing South Carolina, the management takes advantage of their employees, through wages, through unfair managers that lie to make themselves look better. You work outside your normal job code and do other work and they call that normal so they don’t have to pay for their employees for doing above and beyond to make a better wage review. So you get no pat on the backs here, its demoralizing to get treated so bad. Boeing is laughing at SC for the low wages they pay here and enjoying reaping the benefits going to the bank. If they do not like employees that know process and procedure they have a way of firing them here I was told by higher up people. I know there little process. I understand it works well. SC will not learn they can make a average of 3 to 4 dollars more, the family schedule that they have made up here takes advantage of them by not paying hardly any overtime. When the employee works overtime they do not accumulate any vacation time as they do at other Boeings because of a UNION. They also do not get a cost of living increase,and we have to pay more for health insurance here. BSC can pay more. There is no protection for the employees and no voice. We build the same 787 in Everett and they sell it for the same price we do. Except we dont have to use the dreamliner to ship the bodies to Everett, so Boeing makes even more money here. We need the IAM and Speea here now. Stop your complaining SOUTH CAROLINA- UNION FOOLS..

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CNSYD August 12, 2014 at 8:19 am

TRUTHMONGER says Boeing if in trouble financially and is hiding it. You say they are flush with cash because of the low wages they pay. One of you is full of prunes.

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SC likes jobs August 12, 2014 at 9:25 am

“the management takes advantage of their employees, through wages”

Wow, it’s almost like the employees couldn’t go get another job.

“SC will not learn they can make a average of 3 to 4 dollars more”

Maybe they want A job, instead of no job. If Boeing came here to avoid unions, and a union pops up in their Charleston plant, maybe Boeing walks away.

“Stop your complaining SOUTH CAROLINA”

You seem to be the only one bitching here.

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Labrat CNSYD August 12, 2014 at 9:21 am

CNSYD’s schizotypal personality disorder – Cognitive and perceptual distortions, tangential and circumstantial thinking, odd beliefs, suspicious, paranoid ideation, uncomfortable with social interaction.

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simon August 30, 2014 at 3:15 pm

guess what user don’t use the j word for Japanese that’s very offensive

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SJ Swayzee September 10, 2014 at 8:48 pm

…”The North Charleston facility…was built thanks to $1 billion in taxpayer-funded incentives doled out by Gov. Nikki Haley and state lawmakers. ” Of course. Boeing never moves anywhere without getting tax handouts and incentives. And Boeing never does anything that isn’t better for the company than for their employees or the communities in which they locate. Beware of Greeks…
Read more at https://www.fitsnews.com/2014/08/11/boeing-dreamliner-production-issues/#HkjRwuLKl7cVDlRS.99

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