Realignment Heralds Critical Period for Boeing Commercial
Scott Fancher now leads Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ new Airplane Development organization. (Photo: Gregory Polek)
Scott Fancher now leads Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ new Airplane Development organization. (Photo: Gregory Polek)

While the realignment of Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ management structure last week might have marked something less than a revolution in its approach to program development, it certainly signaled a recognition that something fundamental needed to change. Over the next 18 months Boeing expects to increase output across its commercial product lines by 25 percent while it manages no fewer than five development programs. Still smarting from the three years of delays to the 787 program, Boeing appears unwilling to risk any further loss of credibility, at least due to its own organizational shortcomings.