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Member Profile - Boeing: Aerospace giant is soaring above the competition |
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Written On: March/April 2007 |
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Written By: by AWB Staff |
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Aviation depends on international economic development, perhaps more than any other industry. The global economy has created unprecedented opportunities for the industry to grow. As more countries around the world seek to compete in the world market, they need assistance from one of the largest manufacturers in Washington—The Boeing Co.
In 1915, Bill Boeing and George Westervelt began construction of the B&W, a twin-float seaplane, in a boathouse on Seattle’s Lake Union. One year later, Bill Boeing made the first test flight over Lake Union, launching a company that would revolutionize the aviation industry. Bill Boeing’s innovative thinking helped to spur an industry that many thought impossible.
"We are embarked as pioneers upon a new science and industry in which our problems are so new and unusual that it behooves no one to dismiss any novel idea with the statement, 'It can’t be done,'" Boeing said.
In 1929, Boeing’s first passenger plane, the Model 80, took flight. It was the first airliner specifically designed for the comfort and convenience of passengers.
For the next 70 years, Boeing continued to strengthen its product line through innovation, hard work and a top-notch employee base. It competed with other airline giants like Airbus and the McDonnell Douglas Corp., which merged with Boeing in 1997.
After the merger, Boeing was faced with two primary choices: Try to develop a larger airliner, or improve upon their existing aircraft models.
While Boeing’s primary competitor, Airbus, invested heavily in the development of a larger airplane, Boeing chose another path. "We made substantial investments in people and technology that allowed us to bring better products to the market," said Ross R. Bogue, vice president and general manager of Boeing’s 747/767/777 programs and the Everett site.
Rather than trying to build the world’s biggest airplane, Boeing developed the 787 Dreamliner. The 787 has a more economical design, improved fuel economy and features the latest advances in aerospace technology. "The 787 is the most successful airplane launch in commercial aviation history," Bogue said.
Boeing’s 737, 747, 767, 777 and 787 models now dominate the airline industry, and according to recently released figures, airline companies worldwide ordered more than 1,000 airplanes in 2006 alone.
The economic downturn that followed in the aftermath of 9/11 renewed the aerospace giant’s commitment to its customers. "We realized we must bring to market products that meet our customers’ needs, rather than building products for technology’s sake," Bogue said.
"It’s not every day you get a chance to work for a company that has the ability to shape the world," Bogue said. "Seeing children walk off one of our airplanes to see their grandparents for the first time and jump into their arms, or to be able to drop medical supplies after a natural disaster, are unique human experiences we can provide with our products."
Providing an airplane to international consumers is more than a transaction to Boeing, it is a partnership. "To people living in Angola, who just received their first 777 airplane, it not just an airplane—it is national pride," Bogue said.
Despite the emergence of global partnerships, Boeing has continued its commitment to the Puget Sound region. "We have a long tradition and a heritage of manufacturing in Washington state," Bogue said. "This history remains in our company’s DNA."
Today, Boeing employs more than 68,000 people in Washington. "In Washington, we have a talented workforce that builds the best airplanes in the world," Bogue said. Boeing’s success also can be attributed to measures enacted by the Legislature in 2003 that enabled its continued growth in Washington.
"Our experience with legislators—regardless of party affiliation—has been, and continues to be, extremely positive," Bogue said.
Boeing, along with the Association of Washington Business, negotiated several unemployment insurance reforms and aerospace tax exemptions that made Washington’s business climate less burdensome.
Even when success is seemingly a certainty, Boeing is not complacent. "In the future, I’d like to see Boeing continue to be the most admired and integrated aerospace company in the world," Bogue said. "I would like to see us continue to build airplanes and offer products that amaze and dazzle people."
Through a renewed commitment to customers and innovations to its existing product lines, Boeing continues as an aviation powerhouse. "While the company remains dedicated to its employees in Washington, lawmakers must remember that the state relies on the aerospace industry," said AWB President Don Brunell. "As Boeing experiences continued growth and creates much-needed employment opportunities, it is important that those jobs stay here in Washington."
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