Boeing used to be known for making great planes. But now, people are starting to ask whether it is safe to fly on Boeing. In the last two posts, we have talked about how Boeing needs to first return to its engineering roots and reinvest in new designs, safety technologies, production quality, and training. So, what is the third critical thing Boeing has to do to win back our trust? End self-certifications and have greater oversight over its suppliers.
End Self-Certification and Improve Supplier Oversight
First, let’s look at self-certification. Boeing had one of the weirdest arrangements with the FAA. Boeing was self-certifying the safety of its own planes. That was just silly. It is like taking a school exam and telling your teacher that you got 100%.
Thankfully, this is no longer an issue. The FAA has stepped in and implemented reforms and is now taking a more active role in the certification process, conducting independent reviews and verification of Boeing’s design and testing data.
The second issue is oversight over suppliers. Whistleblowers have raised concerns over Boeing’s lax oversight of suppliers, which led to manufacturing flaws. For example, one of Boeing’s 737 MAX planes had a door blow out in January. It was likely a manufacturing flaw of the access door plug made by Spirit Aerosystems, a company that has faced lawsuits related to other manufacturing defects in the past.
On this supplier oversight, Boeing has begun to take the right steps. The company recently announced that they would acquire Spirit Aerosystems to have greater oversight over its supply chain.
Therefore, trust tip #3: Boeing needs to show greater responsibility over its suppliers and stop self-certifying its planes. To monitor Boeing’s progress on these issues, AI tools like Portageur make it easy to keep an eye on Boeing’s defect rates, whistleblower claims, and supplier quality governance policies. You can sign up for a free trial here now.
Conclusion
To earn back our trust, Boeing needs to return to its engineering roots, invest more in quality control and training, and stop self-certifying their planes while keeping a closer eye on their suppliers.
Flying should be something we all enjoy without worrying about safety. Boeing has a legendary history and the potential to soar to new heights again. By making these critical changes, they can once again become a symbol of engineering excellence and ensure we all fly with confidence.
