Production of Boeing 777s back at record highs
18 May 2011
Boeing Co is back to producing seven B777s a month, a schedule it terminated in May 2010.
The return of the enhanced production rate for B777s was celebrated on 16 May with the roll-out of a freighter destined for FedEx. This was the first B777 from the new production schedule.
''This rate increase reflects the strong demand for the 777,'' said B777 programme vice president and general manager, Larry Loftis.
The production rate increase was accompanied by work flow reduction from 52 to 49 days Loftis said, which the result of ''thorough and disciplined'' production work that cut days of flow work in wing spar, service-ready wing and final body join areas.
Boeing's Everett, B777 facility previously reached record production highs of seven-per-month from July 1997 to February 1998, August to October 1999 and November 2006 to May 2010.
Demand cooled off with the 2009 recession and by April of that year the company cut production rates to five-per-month.
Boeing had to wait nearly a year before a rebound in demand allowed it to enhance production levels.
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