(PatriotWise.com) — The FAA on Monday announced that its audit of Boeing’s manufacturing of the 737 Max turned up “multiple instances” in which Boeing and its key supplier failed to ensure manufacturing was compliant with quality standards, the Associated Press reported.
According to the FAA, during its six-week audit, “non-compliance issues” were found with the company’s manufacturing-process control as well as parts handling and storage.
The audit was conducted both at Boeing’s Renton, Washington, facility and the Wichita, Kansas, facility of Boeing’s parts supplier, Spirit AeroSystems. However, the FAA did not publicly release the audit summary.
An FAA spokeswoman said the agency was unable to release the details since its investigation into Boeing is ongoing.
The airplane manufacturer has been under scrutiny by the FAA since an incident on January 5 when the emergency door panel blew off of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 not long after take-off from Portland.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report on the incident determined that the four bolts that keep the emergency door panel in place were missing from the Alaska Airlines 737 Max after repairs were made before the flight took off in Portland.
In late February, the FAA gave Boeing 90 days to develop a plan to improve quality issues and bring its manufacturing up to safety standards.
A Spirit AeroSystems spokesman said the company was reviewing the findings in the FAA audit and communicating with both the FAA and Boeing “on appropriate corrective actions.”
When asked to comment on the audit, Boeing referred the Associated Press to a February 28 statement from CEO David Calhoun, who said the audit gave Boeing a “clear picture” of what must be done. Calhoun said Boeing was “committed” to meeting the challenge.
On February 21, Boeing announced that the vice president and general manager of its 737 program was leaving “effectively immediately.”
Ed Clark, who oversaw the Renton facility where the 737 Max is assembled, was replaced by Katie Ringgold, who formerly oversaw Boeing’s deliveries of 737s to airlines.
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