Word: aircrafting
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...because he knows when to let go. Bair says Boeing made as significant a change in how it approached systems, avionics and hydraulics as it did in giving more responsibility to its high-cost partner manufacturers such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan and Italy's Alenia/ Vought Aircraft Industries. For example, the specification control document, which explains how to build an electrical-distribution system, was about 2,500 pages for the 777. "[Partners] had to figure out 2,500 pages of stuff, and we monitored them applying 2,500 pages of stuff," says Bair...
Bair says the 787 has been a more complicated management process because Boeing doesn't have day-to-day inside control but says the diversity of cultural perspective and expertise has strengthened the team. Also playing in Boeing's game: financiers and bankers. What do bankers know about building aircraft? "They gave us some great advice in terms of configuration in the airplane, going to a more standard aircraft and having the ability to switch engine manufacturers," says Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing. The payoff: higher residual value of the airplane. Aboulafia says getting that kind of endorsement probably...
Technically, a key selling point is the use of carbon-fiber composites in 50% of the Dreamliner by weight (80% by volume), adding to the new jet's reputation as a "game changer." Carbon-reinforced plastic in places such as the wings, fuselage and floorboards not only makes the aircraft lighter--and reduces fuel consumption--but also provides the opportunity to change systems integration, rework maintenance programs, overhaul cabin interiors and upgrade aerodynamic performance. Boeing is working with the world's largest producer of carbon fiber, Tokyo-based Toray Industries, which is still fine-tuning its mass production (this...
...best solution for the increasing demand in the point-to-point market, for instance, Airbus knocks the 787-8 as too small. Tinseth says Boeing initially wanted to make the 787 larger, but airlines talked the company out of it, trading size for range, so the new aircraft could replace the 767s in their fleets. "We still believe there's a market for big airplanes. It's just not as big as [Airbus] thinks it is," says Tinseth...
...Neidl. "What's wrong with that is that they don't." The A380 might work for flights to hubs such as London's Heathrow but probably not for intermediate cities, where passengers prefer direct service. And while seat-mile costs can be reduced for an airline with such an aircraft, too many seats to fill can erode yields...