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Boeing's planned production increase halted due to assembly challenges

Boeing's planned production increase halted due to assembly challenges
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Boeing 737 MAX | Official Website

Boeing initially aimed to increase the monthly production rate of its 737 MAX aircraft to 38 units but faced setbacks due to issues in the assembly process, leading to a reduction to about 31 units per month. A report by The Air Current disclosed that Boeing's attempt to ramp up production in February was hindered by a rise in jobs behind schedule, prompting the company to revert to the previous rate.

A Boeing spokesperson commented, "continues to focus on production stability and quality as we methodically increase 737 production," while noting that the 38-per-month production goal has not been achieved in 2025, emphasizing, "the program has not reduced its rate."

The FAA, following a mid-air door plug incident with Alaska Airlines in January 2024, had capped the production at 38 units. Under the current administration, led by President Donald Trump, the FAA has maintained this cap. Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau now heads the FAA, having taken the role shortly after Trump's inauguration.

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Leading the Department of Transportation, Sean Duffy confirmed during his nomination that Boeing would not exceed this cap without assurance that "a production increase will not reduce the quality of the aircraft being produced." After a March visit to Boeing's Renton, Washington factory, Duffy noted that Boeing's production was not near the cap, stating a focus on quality improvement was necessary before any changes.

At the Bank of America Global Industrials Conference, Boeing's CFO Brian West outlined six key performance indicators to measure production stability: reworks, notice of escapes, traveled work, supplier shortages, employee training, and ticketing. West expressed optimism about meeting these metrics to eventually increase production rates.

In early 2025, Boeing delivered 71 737 MAX units, including inventoried aircraft. Between March 4 and March 21, Boeing distributed at least 22 737 MAX aircraft to customers, including Ethiopian Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

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