Spirit AeroSystems CEO Jeff Turner says his company will deliver 10 787 shipsets to Boeing by the end of 2009. Turner says that six shipsets were delivered to Boeing's Everett, Washington facility in the first half of 2009, with two in October.
To date, Spirit has shipped eight 787 shipsets, including two flight test units and six production barrels. Boeing currently has Airplane 12 in final assembly, with 13 and 14 to follow before year's end. In June, Spirit projected that it would deliver between 10 and 12 shipsets for the mid-size long-range aircraft.
Turner says that Spirit will restart regular composite barrel fabrication later this quarter as it prepares to meet Boeing's 787 production ramp up. Spirit is responsible for the engine pylons, leading edges of the wings and the forward fuselage of the aircraft.
on November 5, 2009 4:56 PM | Reply
This certainly sounds like positive news and signs that the supply chain...or a part of the supply chain ...is starting to find a satisfactory pace.
It would be helpful to have some further understanding or interpretation what this news signifies and represents.
Are these delivered with no rework involved, are they ahead of other suppliers, did they indicate the number to be produced in 2010...could all of this be put into some larger picture
on November 6, 2009 11:08 AM | Reply
I suspect that the ten shipset delivery means only 10 will be produced next year from the new parts. I suspect there is not a lot of storage space at Boeing. Also, having delivered 6 by June, leaves 4 for june to dec. I suspect this is the time Boeing will concentrate on completing all the back logged planes. Boeing has to do two things, fix the already delivered planes, and build new planes with new parts. Sounds to me, they will be doing both in parrelell in order to not shutdown the supply line. This will make for a very serious ramp up in 2011, when all planes will be with new build parts.