Boeing Tackles Traveled Work, Commits to Safety

Speaking at the Bank of America Global Industrials Conference on March 20, Brian West, Boeing’s chief financial officer and executive vice president of finance, gave an update on the company in the wake of recent incidents plaguing the aerospace manufacturer since the Jan. 5 mid-flight dislodging of a door plug from a Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft.

West began by saying the company is “fully committed to transparency and accountability with our regulators. The FAA is deeply involved and undertaking a tougher audit than anything we've ever been through before.  

For years, West said, Boeing prioritized the movement of their aircraft through the factory over getting it done right.

“That's got to change. The leadership team got it in the immediate aftermath of January the 5th. We control how this happens, and it's about our resolve to get ahead and get after traveled work,” he continued. “Our CEO is calling for a step change improvement in how we think about traveled work.

West said that as of March 1, Boeing no longer travel work between Wichita (at their fuselage supplier) and Renton.

“It had been going on too long. So now, we will only accept a fully conforming fuselage from Spirit,” West said.

At the mention of Spirit AeroSystems, West reaffirmed Boeing’s “conviction” to repurchase the manufacturer and supplier but provided no timeline for the possible acquisition.

“We believe, and Spirit believes, that reintegrating these two companies is what's best for safety and for quality for the aerospace industry. We have conviction on that. And without going into synergies and efficiencies, it's really about focus and running that business, not as a business, as a factory. Run it as a factory and stay focused on safety and quality and stability and that opportunity sits there,” he said.