Industry Boeing resumes 737 MAX production

The company announced, that the production of the 737 MAX at the Renton, Washington factory, has been resumed. At first, Boeing will begin building aircraft at a very low rate, as the company is seeking to implement initiatives that are focused on the safety and product quality.

“We’ve been on a continuous journey to evolve our production system and make it even stronger,” said Walt Odisho, vice president and general manager of the 737 program. “These initiatives are the next step in creating the optimal build environment for the 737 MAX.”

Scott Stocker, vice president of 737 Manufacturing added: “The steps we’ve taken in the factory will help drive our goal of 100 percent quality for our customers while supporting our ongoing commitment to workplace safety.”

In mid-December last year, Boeing announced that it temporarily had to suspend the production of all 737 MAX aircraft. Main reason was the re-certification progress, which took longer than expected. After weeks of continuing producing aircraft, the airports were full, and no aircraft was allowed to take to the skies.

Approximately 400 aircraft are currently in storage on the manufacturer´s grounds in the United States. Boeing is still working on the re-certification, after two 737 MAX 8 aircraft crashed due to a software mistake and after major other issues with the aircraft were discovered.

Back in December, Boeing said, that the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and all other global regulatory authorities are determining the timeline for certification and the return into service. The aircraft will only be flying again when everything has been tested.

During this temporary suspension of production, mechanics and engineers collaborated in order to define new and standardizable work packages in each factory position. Especially during the Coronavirus-crisis, safety measures are really important.

Additionally, new kitting processes have been implemented to ensure, that employees always have everything at their fingertip to build the aircraft. Boeing closed the statement by stating, that the 737 program will gradually ramp up its production throughout the year.