“Men and women doing business that helped win the tanker others, including Rob Fink, a 767 managerThat sense of pride is shared by manyend of 2017. The One Boeing way of in uniform success in meeting this and other impor- ferred to the 767 program. -and U.S. Army veteran who recently transcompetition will be critical to the company’s deserve the very tant deadlines along the way, including “Working on the tanker,” Fink said, best. They are a key program review in 2013. something bigger—to contribute to the“gives me the opportunity to be a part ofBoeing has merged hundreds of counting on us. and Defense, Space & Security—at dozens men and women in the military today.”Pulling together so many people fromemployees from Commercial Airplanes No matter how develop and build the tanker, which will lenges. The KC-46 tanker team working at-across the company was not without chalof sites across the United States—to big or small Range) commercial jet. of Tukwila is a good example. They buildan assembly center in the Seattle suburbbe a variant of the 767-200ER (Extended our job, each gram, about 60 percent of the employees the refueling booms.When it was announced last January-Even though the tanker is a BDS pro of us plays an assigned to the program are from Commer- that Boeing’s site in Wichita, Kan., would cial Airplanes, which has built and delivered close, the team started the move to important part.” more than 1,000 767 passenger planes Seattle within a few months. and freighters over the past 30 years. “Getting the assembly center up and – Tom Fisher, 767 wing mechanic “What I’ve seen so far is passionate running quickly was no small task,” said people who want to deliver a jet to the Jerry Lazar, manager of the KC-46 Tanker warfighter and want that jet to be as inex- Finishing Center. pensive as possible, as quality-oriented “For me, after 29 years in Wichita, as possible and as robust as possible,” it was tough to balance the personal said Maj. Gen. John Thompson, Air Force decision to relocate to Puget Sound and Tanker Program executive officer and also guide impacted employees.” KC-46 program director. “We’re on a The facility opened on schedule really good track.” in October. Testing of the first boom is Maureen Dougherty, Boeing KC-46 scheduled to begin in the third quarter of vice president and program manager, said 2013 at a System Integration Laboratory. the team is on schedule for the next major Five laboratories supporting integration Air Force contract milestone, the Critical and testing of various military systems on Design Review, set for next summer. the tanker—four at Boeing Field, a fifth in This review will determine whether the Everett—are scheduled to be operational design of the KC-46A is mature and ready by the end of 2013. to proceed to the manufacturing phase. “The greatest reward,” Lazar said of When it does, the program will be able getting the facility up and running, “was to draw on the experience of hundreds witnessing the collaboration and commit- GRAPHIC: (Top) The KC-46A tanker of 767 factory employees. ment of the team, all the while maintaining will feature advanced technology Richard Duncan, 767 airframe team focus on the common goal—exceed including a digital flight deck with lead with 20 years’ experience, is prepar- customer expectations and produce Boeing 787 Dreamliner electronic ing his team now for the start of the the highest-quality boom.” pilot displays and a state-of-the-art air refueling operator station. BOEING production process. After assembly of each tanker in Everett, PHOTOS: (Far left) Jaydee Dyess, “My team literally crafts the starting the planes will be flown to Boeing Field, 767 Tanker Validation Center, inspects point for the airplane build. We must be where the refueling booms will be attached an actual-size mock-up of the wing very precise in everything we do,” Duncan along with other military equipment. center fuel tank. BOB FERGUSON/BOEING said. “We have put processes in place to But much work remains until that (Left) Brad Storey, boom assembly mechanic, begins work on the first ensure quality and accuracy the first time— first tanker is ready to roll out of the refueling boom being built at Boeing we are ready and excited to begin.” Everett plant. Field in Seattle. JIM ANDERSON/BOEING Tom Fisher, 767 wing mechanic, who “The priorities for the coming year relocated from Long Beach, Calif., to Ever- are significant—completing a successful ett, brings experience and skills as a team critical design review,” said Thompson, the leader on the C-17 military transport. Air Force general in charge of the program. “Men and women in uniform deserve “I have every confidence that we’ll the very best,” Fisher said. “They are get there.” n counting on us. No matter how big kymberly.y.vandlac@boeing.com or small our job, each of us plays an important part.” BOEING FRONTIERS / DECEMBER 2012–JANUARY 2013 39
Frontiers December 2012/January 2013 Issue
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