787 assembly problems in Charleston drag on Everett

Originally published February 3, 2014 at 6:57 PM | Page modified February 3, 2014 at 7:04 PM

Since late last year, Boeing 787 Dreamliner fuselage sections from North Charleston, S.C., have arrived at the Everett final assembly line seriously incomplete with wiring and hydraulics lines missing, according to multiple sources in the factory.

The poorly done work out of Charleston threatens to undermine the companys plans to deliver 10 Dreamliners a month and fulfill the much-delayed jet programs original promise.

Its snowballing. The planes are getting worse out of Charleston, said one senior Everett employee who oversees the production status of the airplanes.

Another Everett employee, a quality inspector, said the work out of Charleston had been very slowly getting better until late last year, but that now the curve has gone the other way, big time.

An engineer in Boeings South Carolina complex said mechanics there have been falling farther and farther behind since last fall, but management has insisted on sending unfinished planes to Everett to keep to the planned rate.

In a written response to inquiries, Boeing said its plan of rolling 10 Dreamliners per month off its assembly lines is on track.

While we have some challenges to address, we see no risk to the program, Boeing said. Right now, Boeing South Carolina is making its rate commitments.

However, with the planes rolling out of the assembly bays needing more fixes out on the flight line, it could be a while before Boeing actually delivers 10 jets per month.

Trouble on assembly line

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787 assembly problems in Charleston drag on Everett