Boeing resumes 737 production at Renton
December 10, 2024
The resumption of 737 MAX production at Boeing’s Renton assembly line is a welcome change for the US manufacturing giant after a 53-day day strike (initiated by the International Association of Machinists) entirely halted proceedings. “Our team has worked methodically to restart operations in the Pacific Northwest,” confirmed a Boeing spokesperson.
The spokesperson added that Boeing has “used [its] Safety Management System to create program-specific plans to identify, evaluate, and mitigate potential risks at each stage of the restart;” consistent with an internal email that had highlighted the SMS as a crucial element to “safely restart” production after the work stoppage.
“Over the last several weeks, we dedicated time toward training and certification, ensuring parts and tools are ready, and completing work on airplanes in inventory to prepare for the resumption of production at pre-work stoppage levels,” continued Boeing. However, despite the restarts, Boeing continues to face regulatory limitation, which currently cap production at 38 737 units a month.
Earlier this week, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker visited Boeing’s plant near Seattle; telling NBC in an exclusive televised interview that Boeing has started executing on a “pretty comprehensive plan” first agreed in May. Throughout this “pretty substantial reset,” the FAA has stayed in “very close contact with Boeing”, with Whitaker highlighting: “They’ve taken the last four weeks to get ready to start production” – both in terms of employee training and ensuring the supply chain is ready to feed the production line. However, unlike previous strikes, Boeing have taken their time to restart production – something he termed a “positive development”.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg had previously noted that full resumption of production would come with its own challenges, explaining: “It’s much harder to turn this on than it is to turn its off, so it’s absolutely critical that we do this right”. Boeing’s Everett production – comprising the 777, 777X and 787 – is also expected to restart in the coming days.
