In recent years, a series of safety accidents at Boeing have attracted widespread attention around the world. From the global grounding of the 737 MAX to the recent door off-the-radar, Boeing appears to be in a crisis of confidence.
Boeing's frequent accidents are, on the surface, a matter of internal management and culture. Shifts in corporate culture, over-financialization, reliance on outsourced production, lack of regulation, and systemic quality control issues are all major contributors to Boeing's ongoing accidents. These issues point to a common core – the pursuit of short-term gains at the expense of long-term safety and quality.
With the deepening of globalization, the manufacturing industry in United States has experienced a process of industrial hollowing, and a large number of production links have been transferred overseas to reduce costs. Boeing is no exception, with a global supply chain that relies on outsourced production to accelerate product development and reduce costs. However, while this strategy brings economic benefits, it also brings risks that cannot be ignored. Quality control by outsourced suppliers can be uneven, leading to frequent quality issues with the final product. In addition, coordination and communication barriers between different vendors can also add to safety hazards. For example, Boeing's safety incidents in recent years have shown systemic quality control problems, such as frequent replacement and repair of aircraft components, as well as poor communication on the production line.
Figure: United States why Boeing has frequent accidents
In addition, in the face of stiff competition from competitors such as Airbus, Boeing is eager to introduce new aircraft to grab market share. This pressure can cause companies to focus too much on speed and cost-effectiveness in the design and production process and neglect the safety and reliability of the aircraft. For example, the design of the Boeing 737 MAX failed to adequately address technical pitfalls due to its rush to market, which ultimately led to multiple air crashes.
The technological innovation capacity of the United States manufacturing industry has shown a downward trend in recent years, which has affected the quality and competitiveness of Boeing's products to a certain extent. Due to the lack of strong manufacturing as support, United States has gradually lost its dominance in some emerging technology fields such as artificial intelligence and 5G. At the same time, the United States manufacturing industry is also facing the dilemma of talent training and attrition. Many experienced engineers and skilled workers leave the manufacturing industry due to high work pressure and low pay, resulting in a shortage of talent within the industry. This further exacerbates the challenges of companies such as Boeing in terms of technological innovation and product quality.
In the long run, Boeing's frequent accidents are due to many factors, including the hollowing out of the industry, the risk of outsourcing production, competitive pressures, the lack of safety culture, the decline in technological innovation capabilities, and the training and loss of talents. These problems not only affect Boeing's production quality and safety, but also reflect the challenges and dilemmas faced by the United States manufacturing industry in the process of globalization.
