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UP FRONTA LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Aerospace Industry: Makeover in Mid-Flight u B


usiness is everything but ho-hum in the aerospace in- dustry these days. Backlogs are enormous, about 10 years deep. According to the most recently available


data, Boeing’s backlog was about 5700 commercial airplane orders, worth $485 billion, and Airbus reported a record backlog of 6787 aircraft worth $996 billion. Ironically, the backlog has been driven, in part, by increas- ingly fuel-effi cient aircraft—and new engines from GE, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce—even as crude-oil prices dropped below $40 a barrel at the start of the year. In this environment, the competition between Boeing and Airbus has centered on who can manufacture planes faster and keep building a big, diverse backlog. While France-based Airbus booked 1036 orders last year, outselling Boeing, the American company won the honor of the most deliveries in 2015. It manufactured 762 jets, 39 more than in 2014. Boeing achieved this feat with fewer employees and major investments in new manufacturing technologies. A Boeing offi cial told the Seattle Times that the 737 fac- tory in Reston, WA, which features massive investments in


EDITORIAL STAFF


EDITOR IN CHIEF SARAH A. WEBSTER 313-425-3252 SWEBSTER@SME.ORG


EXECUTIVE EDITOR JAMES D. SAWYER 313-425-3053 JSAWYER@SME.ORG


SENIOR EDITORS MICHAEL C. ANDERSON 313-425-3258 MANDERSON@SME.ORG


BILL KOENIG 313-425-3058 BKOENIG@SME.ORG


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4 AdvancedManufacturing.org | February 2016


new automation, was now “the most productive fi nal-assem- bly plant on the planet,” and will eventually produce up to 52 jets a month. (Airbus later upped the ante, saying it would be to 60 jets a month by mid-2019). Boeing is also investing in a new composite production center on 27 acres in Everett, WA, to fabricate the 235-ft wings of the 777X. When it comes to reducing backlogs, most everything along the manufacturing supply chain is under consideration for higher throughput and lower costs. That’s not limited to the commercial jet market, either. No. 1 US defense contrac- tor Lockheed Martin also reports a backlog of $72 billion. While the industry and its supply chain look set for orders for the decade ahead, Teal Group analyst Richard Aboulafi a has warned that what goes up must eventually come down. He forecasts a slowdown coming in commercial jetliners about 2020, as interest rates look likely to rise and oil prices remain low, among other factors. All this means there is a lot to talk about at AERODEF 2016, to be held Feb. 8-10 in Long Beach, CA. If you can’t make it to the show, be sure to check out our live coverage on Advanced- Manufacturing.org, or on our Twitter feed @MfgEngNews.


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Although reasonable efforts are taken to ensure the accuracy of its published material, SME is not responsible for statements published in this magazine. Readers are advised that SME shall not be liable to any person or company for losses or damages incurred as a result of accepting any invitation or offer contained in any advertisement published in Manufacturing Engineering®. Copyright © 2016 by SME. Photocopy information: Users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center, 21 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970, can purchase copies at $2.00 each referring to serial fee code 0361-0853/88/$2.00. All other photocopying without the permission of SME is prohibited. Reprint information: For tearsheets, reprints, and bulk orders, write the Production Manager, kstebbins@sme. org. Available on microfi lm/microfi che from University Microfi lms International, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Canada Post Publication Mail Sales Agreement No. 1436813


Sarah A. Webster Editor in Chief


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