“We try to simulate the exact environment of what it’s like to work on the airplane.” – Charles (Chaz) Tucker, 747 Skill Enhancement Center workplace coach BOEING FRONTIERS / JULY 2013 19 program with a single piece of scrap skin panel, the program has grown into nine Skill Enhancement Centers across the Everett factory. “Our employees who build our airplanes have one of the toughest jobs in the company—they make our products come together,” said Rick Palmer, senior manager of the Training and Compliance organization for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We saw an opportunity to partner with the manufacturing teams and take our quality to the next level.” Centers are located next to the production lines for every twin-aisle program, and each center is equipped with prototypes, tools and airplane parts for training. The centers are open to all employees, on all three shifts. “Our organization is really an extension of the teams we support,” Palmer explained. “We partner with them to make their jobs easier and safer and help improve the quality. Each center is designed to support a specific airplane program, providing each team what they need.” The centers use scrap parts and panels to replicate each job on the airplane. Because work varies among programs, each center is tailored to the unique production process of corresponding airplanes: Employees on the 747 program practice drilling on large skin panels made of advanced aluminum alloys, while 787 employees attempt new techniques on scrap carbon fiber parts in their own skill center. “Our goal is to create a real-life practice environment,” explained Charles (Chaz) Tucker, one of the 747 skill center workplace coaches. “We try to simulate the exact environment of what it’s like to work on the airplane.” Each center is staffed with several coaches such as Tucker. They are mechanics with decades of experience who now serve as mentors and trainers. With more than 20 years of experience at Boeing, Tucker understands the challenges employees have—and the ideas for improvement they can contribute. “I’ve been there. I’ve done the job they have, so I can relate to challenges they face,” Tucker said. “Our coaching is tailored to the individual—that can be training, coaching or exploring a new process improvement. It’s all about that partnership.” Coaches also are members of Employee Involvement teams and Quality Councils. They attend staff meetings and can be found throughout the day on an airplane in the production line. “We are out there with the teams every day—in meetings, on the airplane,” Tucker said. “We are an integral part of the team.” Working together is important, said Palmer, who has led the implementation of the Skill Enhancement Centers over the past year. “We are like a tool in their toolbox, and like any toolbox, it needs to be right next to where the work is performed.” Terrell agreed. “If we need something, we don’t need to go far,” he said. “I can go down there, practice a few things or share an idea, and be back on the airplane in just a few minutes.” Doug Robillard, Quality director for the 747 and 767 programs, said the skill centers reflect Boeing’s focus on investing in and developing its teams as part of a strategy to meet its quality commitments. “First-time quality enables us to meet customer expectations and regulatory requirements,” he said. “It is expected as part of our culture.” With additional Skill Enhancement Centers planned for across the Everett site, Palmer is encouraged about the future.“The improvements we’ve seen— and the culture we’re creating with the centers—have been great, but this is only the beginning.” n joanna.pickup@boeing.com PHOTOS: (Clockwise from top left) Vinh Nguyen, 747 structures mechanic; Randy Harper, foreground, 747 structures mechanic, and Charles (Chaz) Tucker, 747 Skill Enhancement Center workplace coach; in the 747 training center are structures mechanic Mich Firman, foreground, and Chris Davidson, 747 Skill Enhancement Center workplace coach; Ed Peros, foreground left, and Kyle Lehn, foreground right, assembling the 747-8. Ed Turner/Boeing
Frontiers July 2013 Issue
To see the actual publication please follow the link above