Aircraft
Stakes Are High in Contest for Boeing 737 MAX Final Assembly
Washington state must and can win 737 MAX assembly, says Accenture.
Improved civil aircraft sales in the coming years will help offset declining defense spending, according to forecasts. (Photo: Boeing)
Improved civil aircraft sales in the coming years will help offset declining defense spending, according to forecasts. (Photo: Boeing)

To win final assembly of the planned Boeing 737 MAX, the state of Washington must take swift, bold action, says consultancy Accenture, which has analyzed the manufacturer’s potential return on investment (ROI) from competing sites in Alabama, California, Florida, Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. The Washington Aerospace Partnership lobby group commissioned Accenture to recommend how to improve and strengthen the state’s aerospace competitiveness.

Advantages listed for Washington include the local workforce’s high productivity and knowledge and a supplier network that could provide a faster ROI than could new assembly facilities. Offsetting disadvantages include higher long-term wage and related costs, a limited ability to produce required engineering talent and a perceived greater risk of strikes.