Anyone associated with the commercial aviation industry knows that Boeing has had an extremely tough couple of years and, despite its best efforts, when it looked as though things might well be getting back on track, COVID-19 struck the civil aviation market heavily causing an unprecedented impact, the socio-economic effects of which will last far beyond 2020.
But the US aircraft manufacturer is resilient. While many global aircraft companies have halted production or been reduced to a mere token of its employees to ensure that the lights still work and the power is still on, Boeing is introducing a “phased-approach” return to work for its employees at its Puget Sound-region production facility beginning this week.
Following this, production will begin next week at Renton, Everett, Auburn and Frederickson, which means that the company’s backlog of 737, 767 and 777 aircraft will begin being filled once again. However, the production site at South Carolina will remain closed until further notice.
“The health and safety of our employees, their families and communities are our shared priority,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal. “This phased approach ensures we have a reliable supply base; our personal protective equipment (PPE) is readily available, and we have all the necessary safety measures in place to resume work for our customers.”
In an effort to support the continued social distancing of its staff, Boeing is introducing extra shift-start times in order to reduce the flow of its production staff through the gate during busy periods. Employees will be required to wear face masks, and PPE will be provided for those working in close proximity with one another for extended periods. Boeing will routinely conduct “wellness checks” on its staff at the beginning of their shifts.
While many analysts continue to pour scorn on Boeing over what’s happened during the past two years, it’s clear the company’s board members are aware that they have a lot of work to do in order to regain the trust of the world’s public.
It’s a case of small steps, such as caring for your own, which may well lead to bigger things, and perhaps, as it did in the past, lead Boeing to being the most trusted of brands for the world’s airline passengers.
