Boeing intends to pump out 7E7s at the rate of seven aircraft per month at its maximum production rate.
The 3-4 day final assembly process will be by some distance its fastest on a modern commercial airliner, a record currently held by the 737 Next Generation which has approached a rate of one every 10 days. A widebody 777 is rolled out every 14-15 days.
By value, Boeing itself is building 35% of the 7E7, with global risk-share partners taking the rest. By April all of the primary partners had been selected.
Japanese industry is the single largest supplier group, with Fuji, Kawasaki and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries taking a 35% share. Alenia/Vought Aircraft Industries, with manufacturing operations in Italy and Texas, has a 26% share.
Boeing is continually adding companies to the list of secondary system suppliers. Last week, it brought Thales and Labinal of France on board. Thales will provide the electrical power conversion system and Labinal will provide wiring.
At the beginning of July, Hamilton Sundstrand was selected to provide the nitrogen generating system.
Source: Flight Daily News
