737 Hits Production Hiccup At Renton
A new production issue has surfaced at Boeing, but the company tells FleetBuzz Editorial.com that it is working on the problem and it is not a safety of flight issue.
It has to do with a tiny part on the 737 line known as a nutplate. Nutplates are very small metallic strips with holes at either end, from which bolts are inserted to hold together components within the airplane.
The nutplates are installed by major supplier Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas. The issue is being described a quality assurance non-conformity issue. This was apparently discovered by Spirit employees.
The anomaly pertains to a protective finishing on these nutplates that prevent corrosion. Some of these small plates have been manufactured incorrectly and are deemed “unusable” according to one Boeing Renton employee who contacted FleetBuzz Editorial.com.
Image courtesy of Boeing
There are “thousands” of affected nut plates on the 737’s currently on the assembly line in Renton, with an unspecified number of 737’s that have already been delivered to customers that may also have these non-conforming plates.
Boeing’s 737 program spokesperson Vicki Ray tells me, “Spirit AeroSystems notified Boeing that nutplates it installed on some Boeing airplane parts did not conform with applicable specifications.”
Ms. Ray says that Spirit has returned to its supplier all potentially discrepant nutplates not already installed.
“Boeing has determined this is not an immediate safety of flight issue and is working closely with the FAA and the supplier to rectify this situation.“
“As you know, we are committed to the safety of the flying public,” she says.
The strength of the nutplates remains fine, having been tested by Spirit and Boeing.
Boeing says it is assessing its delivery schedule following the IAM strike and any necessary rework will be factored into recovery plans.
Aside from delays owing to the recent IAM strike, deliveries of the 737 will not be delayed as a result of the nutplate issue says Boeing.
While not regarded as a safety issue of any kind, Boeing is working with Spirit to retrofit existing 737 fuselages that have been delivered and is replacing parts on those airplanes on the production line in Renton.
It’s not the greatest news on the heels of the recent announcement that the 787 Dreamliner will not make its long await maiden flight by the end of 2008.
But while questions have been raised about quality control, equally, the fact that these issues are being discovered and rectified points to a robust system that highlights any irregularities with a view to further tightening and enhancing that regime to ensure a higher standard of work.
8 comments November 7th, 2008
