Originally Posted by
tdracer
....
BTW, Boeing spent a boatload of money on developing an automated system for assembling 777 fuselages for the 777X program.
After several years and many millions of dollars, they admitted defeat and canned the whole project - they simply could not get the required level of quality without spending more on 'rework' than it currently costs to built 777 fuselages.
Granted, the tooling that was developed for the 777 fuselage is pretty advanced - including a large gig that rotates 360 degrees so that assembly work can be done from a comfortable working position.
This smells like, Boeing is trying to "automate" the production of a design concept, which can not be automated (sensible).
Originally Posted by
tdracer
As I noted previously, the 737 fuselages are built by Spirit in Wichita - it's up to Spirit what sort of mechanization and tooling they use - as long as the meet the required level of quality.
Yep, though, where the design of the item to be produced is not suitable for automation, any attempt to automate this, will cost a fortune and fail, be it a Boeing or a supplier.
IF not started at the initial design with concepts suitable for automated production, production automation will just plain "sock". There is no way around this.
That does not imply, that from one moment in time, ALL design items need to be reconsidered, though a stepwise change, will gradually move the whole production from craftsmanship to automation.
Does it cost "low skilled jobs" ? Yep it does. Though, it does bring back higher skilled jobs. Will the "low skilled jobs" be lost, IF no change is initiated ? Yep, the whole company will gradually disappear, because it is slowly getting behind, etc. and the "low skilled jobs" will disappear, including the company.