Boeing to resume production in Puget Sound next week
by The Boeing Company
- Boeing to Resume Commercial Airplanes Production in Puget Sound
- Enhanced health and safety procedures for employees at facilities
- Employees who can telecommute continue to work from home
SEATTLE, April 16, 2020 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] will resume all Commercial Airplanes production in a phased approach at its Puget Sound-region facilities next week, after suspending operations last month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At all of its sites, the company has taken extra precautions and instituted comprehensive procedures to keep people safe and fight the spread of COVID-19.
“The health and safety of our employees, their families and communities is our shared priority,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and senior executive in the Pacific Northwest. “This phased approach ensures we have a reliable supply base, our personal protective equipment is readily available and we have all of the necessary safety measures in place to resume essential work for our customers.”
Approximately 27,000 people in the Puget Sound area will return to production of the 747, 767, 777 and 787 programs, supporting critical global transportation infrastructure, cargo services and national defense and security missions. The 737 program will resume working toward restarting production of the 737 MAX. Boeing South Carolina remains in a suspension of operations at this time. Earlier this week Boeing restarted mostly defense production operations in the region with approximately 2,500 people.
Employees in the Puget Sound for the 737, 747, 767 and 777 will return as early as third shift on April 20 with most returning to work by April 21. Employees for the 787 program will return as early as third shift April 23, with most returning to work by April 24.
The company’s practices reinforce enhanced cleaning, employee health and physical distancing in partnership with employees. Aligned with federal and state guidance, these practices include:
- Staggered shift start times to reduce the flow of employees arriving and departing work
- Visual controls such as floor markings and signage to create physical distance
- Face coverings will be a requirement for employees at Boeing sites in Washington. Employees are strongly encouraged to bring in their own procedural mask or face covering; those who do not have a mask available will be provided with one.
- Providing required personal protective equipment to employees working in areas where physical distancing cannot be maintained for an extended period
- Asking employees to perform self-health checks before coming to work and to stay home if they are ill
- Employee wellness checks at the beginning of every shift and voluntary temperature screening at many manufacturing locations
- Contact tracing when an employee tests positive for COVID-19 to reduce risk to teammates
- Continued virtual meetings and employees who can work from home will continue to do
- Transportation and common areas adjusted for physical distancing
- Hand-washing stations in high-traffic areas and additional cleaning supplies available
Enhanced measures will continue until conditions allow for a return to regular work and cleaning processes. Boeing will continue to monitor government guidance on COVID-19, assess impact on company operations and adjust plans as the situation evolves.
If your site is not listed, please assume your work location is open and operating on a normal schedule. If you have questions, please contact your manager.
Many Boeing’s production and other facilities throughout the company remain open. Boeing is monitoring the coronavirus situation closely and taking prudent measures to protect the health and safety of employees and their families, as well the communities where we live.
Employees should follow guidance issued by local, county and state emergency management officials, and can find updates on the status of site operations here and the employee emergency hotline at 800-899-6431.
Puget Sound and Moses Lake operations (posted April 16, 2020)
Boeing will continue the next steps in a safe and orderly restart of production operations in the Puget Sound region.
- 737, 747/767, 777, Fabrication and support teams to restart as follows:
- Executives and senior managers on April 17
- First-line managers and third-shift employees on April 20
- First- and second-shift employees on April 21
- 787 to restart as follows:
- Executives and senior managers on April 22
- First-line managers and third-shift employees on April 23
- First- and second-shift employees on April 24
Boeing South Carolina remains in a suspension of operations at this time.
Managers will contact employees returning to work to provide report date and shift information. Employees who can perform their work remotely will continue to do so, in coordination with their manager. Employees are asked to contact their managers with questions.
PLEASE NOTE: At Washington state sites, face coverings are a requirement and employees are strongly encouraged to bring in their own procedural mask or face covering. Please ensure face coverings meet Boeing’s safety and security guidance, and are workplace appropriate. Employees who do not have a mask or face covering available will be provided with one.
Aurora Flight Sciences (Manassas, Virginia; Bridgeport, West Virginia; Columbus, Mississippi; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Luzern, Switzerland) (posted April 10, 2020)
Aurora Flight Sciences will temporarily suspend operations across all sites beginning end of day, Friday, April 10, for two weeks with production scheduled to resume on Monday, April 27. Employees who can work remotely will continue to do so. Managers will reach out to individuals impacted by the suspension with more specific direction.
Boeing South Carolina 787 Operations (posted April 6, 2020)
Boeing 787 production operations at Boeing South Carolina will be suspended until further notice starting at the end of second shift on Wednesday, April 8. The temporary suspension is focused on the health and safety of our team and the reliability of our global supply chain. Teammates who are already working from home will continue to do so, and should direct any questions to their managers.
Ridley Township – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (posted April 2, 2020)
Boeing production operations at its Ridley Township, Pa, facilities will be suspended for two weeks starting at end of day, Friday, April 3. The suspension is intended to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. The site will return to normal work schedules on April 20. Employees working from home will continue to do so, and employees should direct questions to their managers.
Pleasanton, California (Boeing Secure Computing Solutions) (posted April 2, 2020)
Due to a shelter in place order issued by Santa Clara and Alameda counties, Boeing temporarily suspended operations until further notice. Boeing leaders will continue to monitor guidance and directives issued by local governments. Employees should remain in contact with their managers, and employees supporting critical operations will continue to report to their assigned shifts.
Marshall Space Flight Center – Huntsville, Alabama (posted March 27, 2020)
Per NASA direction, MSFC facilities are closed to all but mission-critical operations. Boeing’s International Space Station program continues on-site support for the research and payloads operated aboard the station. No other Boeing personnel should report to this site unless authorized to do so by their manager.
Stennis Space Center – Hancock County, Mississippi (posted March 20, 2020)
Boeing operations are suspended, per NASA direction. Boeing has a team on-site to protect our mission critical hardware; no other Boeing personnel should report to this site unless authorized to do so by their manager.
Michoud Assembly Facility – New Orleans, Louisiana (posted March 19, 2020)
Boeing operations are suspended, per NASA direction. Boeing has a team on-site to protect our mission critical hardware; no other Boeing personnel should report to this site unless authorized to do so by their manager.
Author: Mario Lotmore
