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Boeing 787’s problems blamed on outsourcing, lack of oversight
Surprise, surprise Boeing you just didn't listen did you! (seattletimes.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
If my name was on a product that costs as much as the 787, I think i would have close oversight of the suppliers.
A few months a go I spent $30 on a oscillating fan from Sears. I was astounded at how cheap and flimsy the product was. I had to handle it gently because I the thin cheap plastic felt like it was going to break in my hands. I wound up not needing to use it much but if I did, I'd give it 1 to 2 years max before it craps the bed. That seems to be the new American business model: charge as much as you can for absolute crap and pocket all of it until the wheels finally fall off.
And it's not like American (or first-world) made products necessarily need to cost a fortune. A Mag-lite costs about the same (or sometimes less) than a similar Chinese-made Craftsman flashlight. American Apparel is comparable in price and quality to what you'd find at Macys or Nordtroms and is made in SoCal.
I'm looking to invest in a ANR headset and plan to get a David Clark. Made in USA, incredible quality and reliability and great customer support.
And it's not like American (or first-world) made products necessarily need to cost a fortune. A Mag-lite costs about the same (or sometimes less) than a similar Chinese-made Craftsman flashlight. American Apparel is comparable in price and quality to what you'd find at Macys or Nordtroms and is made in SoCal.
I'm looking to invest in a ANR headset and plan to get a David Clark. Made in USA, incredible quality and reliability and great customer support.
The detailed/parent article confuses and surprises me , both . The concept of out sourcing is too ancient , may be as old humanity itself. It all depends on your perception of the idea. Man outsourced cooking to woman . She outsourced killing to man ! If food(product) quality was not good he complained and if cooking was not good or easy to cook she complained of bad supplies(kill) !
This prompts me to state the steps known to all our readers and our predecessors very well in context of out sourcing and quality control steps for such procurement .
Every supplier has his share of suppliers . Each buyer prepares his specifications/requirements and specifies level and type of quality control . And this supplier , who becomes a buyer to his suppliers does a similar exercise . At each level or tier there is/or corresponding quality control checks .
So where is the problem ? Or the chance or need to compromise on the standards or quality control ? The only steps necessary are to prepare check lists suitable for each category of product/service/system/sub system/assembly/sub assembly and so on .
That is precisely the reason why millions are spent on design personnel and those from the materials/stores section !
And if these basic steps are over looked in the anxiety of these steps being too primitive , then we know the results and the outcome of such over zealousness !
This prompts me to state the steps known to all our readers and our predecessors very well in context of out sourcing and quality control steps for such procurement .
Every supplier has his share of suppliers . Each buyer prepares his specifications/requirements and specifies level and type of quality control . And this supplier , who becomes a buyer to his suppliers does a similar exercise . At each level or tier there is/or corresponding quality control checks .
So where is the problem ? Or the chance or need to compromise on the standards or quality control ? The only steps necessary are to prepare check lists suitable for each category of product/service/system/sub system/assembly/sub assembly and so on .
That is precisely the reason why millions are spent on design personnel and those from the materials/stores section !
And if these basic steps are over looked in the anxiety of these steps being too primitive , then we know the results and the outcome of such over zealousness !
No one is complaining about the subject of sourcing parts and assemblies. However, when one orders a part, usually there are specifications that must be met. I know of one industry that every part in everything, must meet industry specs, and be an approved supplier of same, or they will never get a dime of business in that industry. Every screw and bolt.
It used to be, specifications for parts was not a suggestion, but a hard and fast rule. Suppliers did not dictate it, the buyer did. The more critical the part, the harder the buyers made it on the suppliers.
When one blindly accepts the design of a part or sub-assembly to install on their own product, it becomes a gamble. The jobber or supply source does not have their name on the product, you or your company does. And especially when your product operates 40,000 feet off the ground, you had better be sure what you are putting into it. Because reputations fall as hard as your product from 40,000 feet (isn't there a law of physics and economics that cover that?).
It used to be, specifications for parts was not a suggestion, but a hard and fast rule. Suppliers did not dictate it, the buyer did. The more critical the part, the harder the buyers made it on the suppliers.
When one blindly accepts the design of a part or sub-assembly to install on their own product, it becomes a gamble. The jobber or supply source does not have their name on the product, you or your company does. And especially when your product operates 40,000 feet off the ground, you had better be sure what you are putting into it. Because reputations fall as hard as your product from 40,000 feet (isn't there a law of physics and economics that cover that?).
If they were outsourcing the spec writing, why didn't they outsource management as well? May have been improvement at the top of the chain.
Sounds just like the same reason your kitchen appliances never get past a few years without needing work anymore. Cheaper, inferior, imported parts. Whirlpool and Boeing should just share engineering staff and save even more money. Lol