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Posted by Jim Stewart on September 4, 2008, 10:01 pm
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I've wondered since I was a kid growing up
near Seattle. Are they really machinists,
all 27,000 of them, or are they aircraft
assemblers?
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Posted by Kelly Jones on September 4, 2008, 10:39 pm
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> I've wondered since I was a kid growing up
> near Seattle. Are they really machinists,
> all 27,000 of them, or are they aircraft
> assemblers?
Years ago, most were actual machinists (when Boeing fabricated most of the
parts in house). Now the vast majority are assemblers. Don't let the
moniker "assembers" throw you though - the skills required by the average
assembler, while not the same as a true machinist, are pretty rigourous.
Imagine trying to drill a hole to +.002/-000 on a compound curved surface,
through a stack up of titanium and composite, free hand. If you mess up,
the hole has to be reviewed and repaired, usually with the next size
fasterner, to the same tolerances. Each repair is a costly, time consuming
process. I guess what I am trying to say is that most Boeing "assemblers"
still need to apply that machinist's attitude to their work. It must be
perfect every time.
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Posted by Don Stauffer on September 5, 2008, 10:41 am
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Kelly Jones wrote:
>> I've wondered since I was a kid growing up
>> near Seattle. Are they really machinists,
>> all 27,000 of them, or are they aircraft
>> assemblers?
>
> Years ago, most were actual machinists (when Boeing fabricated most of the
> parts in house). Now the vast majority are assemblers. Don't let the
> moniker "assembers" throw you though - the skills required by the average
> assembler, while not the same as a true machinist, are pretty rigourous.
> Imagine trying to drill a hole to +.002/-000 on a compound curved surface,
> through a stack up of titanium and composite, free hand. If you mess up,
> the hole has to be reviewed and repaired, usually with the next size
> fasterner, to the same tolerances. Each repair is a costly, time consuming
> process. I guess what I am trying to say is that most Boeing "assemblers"
> still need to apply that machinist's attitude to their work. It must be
> perfect every time.
>
>
Remember, if you ever fly on a Boeing airliner, your life depends on
their skill.
Same thing with airline mechanics. Things have changed, but I remember
the days when airline mechanics made substantially less than car
mechanics at new car dealers.
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Posted by Spehro Pefhany on September 5, 2008, 10:52 am
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On Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:41:42 -0500, Don Stauffer
>Kelly Jones wrote:
>>> I've wondered since I was a kid growing up
>>> near Seattle. Are they really machinists,
>>> all 27,000 of them, or are they aircraft
>>> assemblers?
>>
>> Years ago, most were actual machinists (when Boeing fabricated most of the
>> parts in house). Now the vast majority are assemblers. Don't let the
>> moniker "assembers" throw you though - the skills required by the average
>> assembler, while not the same as a true machinist, are pretty rigourous.
>> Imagine trying to drill a hole to +.002/-000 on a compound curved surface,
>> through a stack up of titanium and composite, free hand. If you mess up,
>> the hole has to be reviewed and repaired, usually with the next size
>> fasterner, to the same tolerances. Each repair is a costly, time consuming
>> process. I guess what I am trying to say is that most Boeing "assemblers"
>> still need to apply that machinist's attitude to their work. It must be
>> perfect every time.
>>
>>
>
>Remember, if you ever fly on a Boeing airliner, your life depends on
>their skill.
>
>Same thing with airline mechanics. Things have changed, but I remember
>the days when airline mechanics made substantially less than car
>mechanics at new car dealers.
IME, the shop rate is considerably less for aircraft mechanics
compared to car mechanics (maybe 2/3- 70 vs. 90/hr), but they seem to
make up the difference (and much, much more!) in other charges.
Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
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Posted by Robert Swinney on September 5, 2008, 9:50 am
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They work on pogo sticks?
Bob Swinney
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
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> near Seattle. Are they really machinists,
> all 27,000 of them, or are they aircraft
> assemblers?