Boeing is discussing the logistics of 7E7 production with suppliers and potential partners as it prepares to reorganise completely its assembly methods.
Mike Bair, senior vice-president for the 7E7 programme, says that the close location of suppliers' plants relative to the final assembly line is one subject being discussed.
The new "light" assembly method planned for the 7E7 will mean that larger, highly equipped subassemblies will be supplied to the assembly line, similar to Airbus's method.
Vought, shortlisted with Italy's Alenia and Japan's Fuji, Kawasaki and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to be a structures supplier, says it is prepared to open its own assembly line near or even inside the 7E7 final assembly line if it is chosen as one of the main wing partners, says Vern Broomall, Vought's vice-president of quality, engineering and technology.
Bair says that the new assembly method would mean that partners "will want to do most of the subassembly work away from the assembly line". As such, Boeing has requested that structures partners have access to a deepwater port.
Despite Boeing's preference for seaborne transport, Antonov Airlines is proposing to deliver subassemblies from Japan and Italy using the giant Antonov An-225 Mryia. If Boeing approves, two more An-225s might need to be built.
Source: Flight International
