Boeing's downfall began with its merger with the failing McDonnell Douglas, one forced on it by the US government as part of the 1990s consolidation of the defense industrial base. Boeing was a company run by engineers. McDonnell Douglas was run by financiers.22 Feb 2024
From Forbes That question demands an answer. Fixing the problems at Boeing, however, goes far beyond safety. Boeing plays a critical but not widely understood role in the American economy. America needs Boeing to succeed.
Boeing’s troubles are in the center of the public eye now, but it’s been in crisis for years. In 2014, I wrote about how Boeing's Wall Street-driven focus on outsourcing and cost-cutting was crippling its manufacturing capabilities and destroying its historic culture of engineering excellence. The result was battery fires, massive delays, and cost overruns in the 787 Dreamliner program. Rather than make bold investments in innovative aircraft as it had in the past, Boeing cut costs to please investors
There needs to be a clear definition in all things between the pen pushers and the people who actually do the work who need to be the ones making the decisions
Look what happens when politicians interfere with defense and army operations
