Boeing opens new 787 vertical fin assembly line in Salt Lake City

Boeing (NYSE: BA) today commemorated the opening of a new 787 vertical fin assembly line at its production facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. Operated by Boeing Fabrication, the site will build the vertical fin assemblies for 787 Dreamliners built at Boeing South Carolina. Production on the new assembly line is slated to begin in July.

Today's event -- attended by elected officials, community and business groups, suppliers, subcontractors and Boeing employees -- was highlighted by Governor Gary R. Herbert symbolically pushing a large button bringing electric power to the assembly line.

"With increasing demand for our products and the development of two new airplanes, this is an exciting time for Boeing," said Ross R. Bogue, vice president and general manager of Boeing Fabrication. "Boeing Salt Lake City has a key role in the future success of Boeing Commercial Airplanes."

The new assembly line was designed and built using Lean Manufacturing techniques. These techniques reduced required floor space and increased production capacity without adding new brick and mortar facilities. The 35,000 square feet (3251.6 square meters) state-of-the-art composite assembly line will help improve the efficiency of the final assembly and delivery process at Boeing's 787 facility in South Carolina.

"Opening this line is a great example of Boeing teammates working together across organizational and geographical boundaries to drive manufacturing excellence," said Craig Trewet, director Boeing Salt Lake City. "It was a team effort between Boeing South Carolina training and development, our Composite Manufacturing Center that produces the vertical fin parts in Washington state, and each and every employee at Salt Lake City."

The Boeing Salt Lake City facility currently supports fabrication activities across all Boeing Commercial Airplane models. It is scheduled to deliver its first vertical fin to Boeing South Carolina during the fourth quarter 2011.