Fastener Delays Doom Boeing 787 Chief
Fastener Delays Doom Boeing 787 Chief
Jason Sandefur
Days after conceding a six-month delivery delay, Boeing replaced the head of the 787 Dreamliner program, which has been hampered by a critical shortage of aerospace fasteners and other supply problems.
Boeing named Pat Shanahan, 45, general manager of the 787 program. Shanahan, who served as vice president of Missile Defense Systems at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, replaces Mike Bair, 51, who has lead the Dreamliner’s development since its launch in 2004.
“Shanahan knows how to deliver results, understands our customers and their requirements, and has the leadership skills to get the job done,” stated Boeing Commercial Airplanes President Scott Carson.
Scrambling to speed up production, Boeing has sent hundreds of engineers to help third-tier suppliers as far away as Israel.
In recent weeks CEO Jim McNerney has blamed Alcoa Fastening Systems and other fastener suppliers for ongoing shortages that have delayed the test flight of the 787.
However, earlier reports suggesting that 787 fastener specs were as much as 8 months late, forcing AFS and other suppliers to work non-stop to complete design work and manufacture the 9 different fastener types for the Dreamliner. Web: boeing.com �2007 FastenerNews.com
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