Are airplanes produced faster today, why or why not?

Question

Im doing an assignment on VirginBlue planes.

Just wanted to know if bcos of technology or any other factors, if airplanes are being produced faster these days.

Answer 1

Actually, we build them at the rate that the customers want to recieve them.

When I was building the MD-80's (no longer in production) back in the late 80's-early 90's, we were making them at 4 per week. (American Airlines had a HUGE order for them at the time, plus other customers).

Currently, I build the C-17 military transport. We build one every 15 days, because that's the rate the customer wants them at. As an example, during WWII, the C-47 (military version of the DC-3) came off the line at a rate 1.8 aircraft per hour.

Now, as far as building them faster, the faster the rate, the lower per unit cost.

Let me give an example. Let's say we need a part made on a lathe. The part itself doesn't take long to make, but the set-up time before you can start is time consuming. If you make 50 parts, the total bill is material, labor, time (including the set-up time). Now, if you ran off 100 at a time, the set-up time is cut in half.

But yes, technology DOES help produce products at a potentially faster rate.

One example is "burrless (or chipless) drilling.

Use to be, you'd drill a series of holes, then disassemble the parts to get out the chips and deburr the holes, seal between parts, then shoot them up.

Now, they can magnetically clamp the parts together so tight, there is no space for the chips to gather, or burrs to form. So now, you can seal between the parts first, drill, then shoot up.

Another inovation is the moving line (initiated on the 717/MD95). Unlike cars, for decades, aircraft sat in one place for however long the move cycle was (maybe 1-3 weeks or more), being built, then moved to the next position.

To move the plane, the line had to be "broken down" (tugs moving all the stands away, unhooking the air hoses, electrical lines, etc). This used to take an entire shift to break down the Final line, move it, and reset up. Now, the plane moves on a chain driven converyor belt that also moves the stands, etc with it at one time, just by hitting a switch.

One final note. When technology kicks in, the collateral damage is the workers. While the inital investment of new technology can be expensive, the company saves over the long run, because it can get rid of people, saving wages, benefits, retirement, etc.

Answer 2

Hi.. they do make fast airplanes these days if you can follow the likes I am sending you you'll have an Idea!

Answer 3

Strange question. Many bigger aircraft are being made than in the past, with the result that the travelling public does not need so many more aircraft but only more carrying capacity.

Perhaps the question should be better phrased. Are the available seat-capacities of civil aircraft being provided by the manufactureres in greater amounts?  Then the answer is "yes" but that this is being achieved by providing fewer more complex aircraft, that are being made in smaller numbers. Thus with better technology the rate of aircraft production is smaller.

Answer 4

Boeing and Airbus thought they could produce a new aircraft faster!

But, reality proves them both wrong. Airbus 380 and Boeing 787!

Answer 5

Yes Boeing has now gone from building one plane at atime to a production line. The 787 will be on a continious moving line and it makes it posable to roll one out every 3 days. The development of the A/C is taking longer than planed thou.

Answer 6

Airplanes produced today use manufacturing techniques that was pioneered by the Japanese auto industry.  Parts are not inventoried but delivered as needed to the assembly line in a highly computerized system designed to save costs.  Today more than ever, time is money and with labor costs in the highly competitive commercial aircraft industry any way to save time and money is used.  Boeing has begun using a rolling assembly line.  Although there has been some snags and it has cost them about a year in delays Boeing's 787 is being assembled from sub-assemblies manufactured by other companies at other locations in an effort to build planes ever faster.