LONG BEACH -- In a first for the industry, Boeing Co. is producing its newest jetliner on an assembly line -- a move expected to slash costs and production time.
The new technique for the 717 was launched this month at the Long Beach plant. Company officials hope it will cut production costs in half and reduce manufacturing time from 65 days to 20 days.
The 106-passenger plane sells for $25 million. Boeing officials hope faster production will lower the price tag -- they won't say by how much -- and make the plane more competitive.
Seattle-based Boeing has said it needs to sell 200 of the jetliners to break even. It has received 149 orders to date. Trans World Airlines and AirTran Airways each ordered 50 jets but both are trying to recover from financial problems, potentially jeopardizing future purchases.
On the assembly line, jets are placed in a cradle that is pulled by a pair of chains under the factory floor. Parts are added as the plane creeps forward at about a half-inch per minute.
Tools and parts are brought to mechanics so they won't have to waste time looking for them.
The success of the moving assembly line could determine whether the company goes ahead with plans to develop an 85-passenger version of the 717.
Boeing inherited the plane -- then called the MD-95 -- from McDonnell Douglas when the companies merged three years ago.<
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