The Boeing Company, major producer of commercial airplanes, has announced that it will resume all Commercial Airplanes production in, what it calls, "a phased approach," at its Puget Sound-region facilities next week, after having suspended operations about a month ago in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a company public dispatch the plane manufacturer's Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and senior executive in the Pacific Northwest, said :
"...At all of its sites, the company has taken extra precautions and instituted comprehensive procedures to keep people safe and fight the spread of COVID-19 ... The health and safety of our employees, their families and communities is our shared priority ... This phased approach ensures we have a reliable supply base, our personal protective equipment is readily available and we have all of the necessary safety measures in place to resume essential work for our customers..."A workforce of about 27,000 people in the Puget Sound area are set to return to work on plane models 747, 767, 777, and 787, which are part of the company's international infrastructure, which includes cargo services, and national security missions.
Boeing says "...The 737 program will resume working toward restarting production of the 737 MAX. Boeing South Carolina remains in a suspension of operations at this time. Earlier this week Boeing restarted mostly defense production operations in the region with approximately 2,500 people ... Employees in the Puget Sound for the 737, 747, 767 and 777 will return as early as third shift on April 20 with most returning to work by April 21. Employees for the 787 program will return as early as third shift April 23, with most returning to work by April 24..."
The company points out that moving forward, the company's practices reinforce enhanced cleaning, employee health and physical distancing in partnership with employees and aligned with federal and state guidance.
Boeing's action comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump made announcements about jump starting the economy after effects of the Coronavirus began to "peak" in the U.S.
