Boeing Ships First 787 From South Carolina

Source: Wall Street Journal

Boeing Co. BA +1.47% on Friday delivered the first 787 Dreamliner built at its South Carolina factory, the first large commercial jetliner assembled outside of its historically significant manufacturing centers in Washington state and California.

The nonunion site is central to Boeing's ambitious production expansion for the jetliner, which has a backlog of 810 orders. Total 787 output is expected to increase to 10 a month by late 2013 with the North Charleston, S.C., plant supplying one of every three planned deliveries.

Air India, which took delivered of the jet last month, earlier received its first two 787s built at Boeing's Everett, Wash., factory, following an agreement over compensation for past Dreamliner delays. Delivery of the first South Carolina-built 787 was set for July, and slid as a result of the dispute.

The South Carolina outpost employs more than 6,000 workers and underscores Boeing's push for greater flexibility in its production. The factory's share of Dreamliner work is likely to climb in the years ahead as the plane maker looks to accelerate past its 10 a month target.

The company's main commercial-jet factories near Seattle will remains its core for the jet, said Jack Jones, vice president of Boeing South Carolina. However, Mr. Jones said the South Carolina factory signals a change the U.S. aerospace landscape.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443768804578038540204834934.html?mod=googlenews_wsj