aviation
There are systematic shortcomings in the quality assurance of aircraft manufacturer Boeing, the American aviation authority FAA writes in a report.
At Boeing, employees in the commercial aircraft departments do not have a standardized and clear way to report deficiencies. That is the conclusion of the FAA committee that is examining the aircraft manufacturer. Staff do not understand how to use the different reporting systems, and which system to use when.
“Procedures and training are complex and constantly changing, leading to confusion among staff, especially between different workplaces and groups of employees,” said a report published on Monday. “The experts also found that there is a lack of awareness about safety-related metrics at all levels of the company.”
The conversations with staff also raised the question of whether sufficient follow-up is being given to reporting quality problems internally. The committee says it is concerned that Boeing employees are discouraged from doing so.
As part of the investigation, the committee had asked Boeing to prove that safety is a top priority. But documents and interviews do not show that the company is as committed to this as it claims. In response to the findings, Boeing said it has taken measures to improve its quality culture.
After an incident involving a Boeing 737-9 Max at the beginning of this year, the aircraft manufacturer is under increased pressure. A panel then came down in full flight. No one was injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said after an investigation that two mounting bolts were missing. All Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft had to be grounded for a while, but have since been cleared to fly again.
The FAA investigation into Boeing’s procedures started earlier, in March last year. Individual incidents, such as that at the beginning of this year, were not part of the committee’s mandate, but did increase the urgency of the report.
