In response to an audit conducted by the U.S. government, Boeing released a statement on Tuesday affirming its commitment to collaborating with employees found to have violated company manufacturing procedures.
The aim is to ensure these employees fully comprehend their job instructions.
Stan Deal, President of Boeing's commercial plane division, outlined the latest corrective measures in a memo addressed to all employees.
This communication followed a comprehensive six-week assessment by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of Boeing's manufacturing processes for the 737 Max jetliner.
The FAA's scrutiny was prompted by an incident on an Alaska Airlines flight where a panel detached on January 5.
According to a source familiar with the FAA report, Boeing fell short in 33 out of 89 production aspects reviewed at its Renton, Washington plant.
Although specific details of the report remain undisclosed, The New York Times provided insight into its findings, citing a slide presentation from the government's audit.
Deal emphasized that the majority of violations identified by the FAA were attributed to employees deviating from Boeing's approved procedures. Consequently, Boeing plans to address these issues by providing additional guidance to employees flagged for non-compliance during the audit, ensuring thorough comprehension of work instructions and protocols.
Furthermore, the company intends to implement weekly compliance assessments for all work teams at the Renton facility, where the Max jets are assembled.
Acknowledging recent criticisms regarding the complexity and frequency of procedural changes impacting safety, Deal affirmed Boeing's commitment to simplifying and refining its processes, in line with recommendations from government and industry experts.
The incident aboard Alaska Airlines flight 1282, where a door-plug panel detached over Oregon, occurred despite earlier concerns raised by engineers and technicians about a warning light linked to the plane's pressurization system.
While Alaska Airlines maintained that its maintenance procedures were in accordance with standards, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association supported the airline's handling of the matter, citing the technical challenges in diagnosing the issue.
Regarding recent orders and deliveries, Boeing reported receiving orders for 15 jetliners in February and delivering 27 planes in total, including two Max jets each to Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
However, the company faced challenges as increased scrutiny from the FAA impacted its delivery pace, resulting in frustration for airlines such as Southwest, which might need to adjust its growth plans due to anticipated delays in receiving Max jets.
Boeing's stock experienced a decline of more than 4% on Tuesday, reflecting concerns over the company's ongoing challenges amidst regulatory scrutiny and delivery delays.