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Boeing began building the first 777 at a new rate – the highest rate ever for a Boeing twin-aisle airplane – earlier today. The rate of 8.3 airplanes per month is a nearly 20 percent increase over the previous seven per month rate, the manufacturer said.
“The preparation the team has done for this historic rate increase has been comprehensive from floor to ceiling,” said Scott Fancher, 777 vice president and general manager. “We’ve hired and trained hundreds of additional employees and the efforts of the team to get us to this point have been simply outstanding.”
New technologies have been implemented at the Everett, Wash., facility to help achieve the feat. Flex-track drilling machines in the 777 body and wings area along with automated spray-painting equipment have enabled employees to increase productivity and improve quality and safety, Boeing said.
Boeing said the airplane, a 777 freighter, will be delivered to Korean Air in February 2013.
