October 2007 Volume VI, Issue VI www.boeing.com/frontiers SHARING WHAT WE KNOW Boeing employees are working to manage the company’s collective knowledge— and create a competitive advantage 1 2 October 2007 BOEING FRONTIERS October 2007 Volume VI, Issue VI October 2007 Volume VI, Issue VI www.boeing.com/frontiers SHARING WHAT WE KNOW ON THE COVER: Associate Boeing employees are working to manage the company’s Technical Fellow Jim Coogan collective knowledge— and create a competitive advantage works with Emily Hoelting of Delta/United Launch Alliance. Photo by Michael Gail OTO H GAIL HANUSA P COVER STORY KNOW AND SHARE 12 Boeing’s Duc Le (left) consults with Pat Riedl, a Boeing retiree, on 787 wiring design processes. Boeing employees are taking part in various efforts to manage the company’s collective knowl- edge. Here’s an explanation of why this is important to Boeing. The Netherlands is a nation where internationalism, inno- LOW LAND, 28 vation and environmental concern converge. These quali- FEATURE ties strengthen the relationships between Boeing and the company’s HIGH IDEALS Dutch customers and supplier partners—to everyone’s benefit. STORY BOEING FRONTIERS October 2007 3 October 2007 Volume VI, Issue VI Boeing’s Kathy Landino, an FAA Designee, guides her signed Airworthiness Certificate into its holder 18 above the door in a Boeing 737 airplane. All Boeing A glance all around jetliners must have an original Certificate of Air- What’s the home of the world’s fastest digital panoramic worthiness before being delivered to and operated camera? Boeing. Here’s a peek at what can be done with by a customer for commercial service. 22 this camera—which is based on an existing camera system and can take a 360-degree picture in a single pass. A world of opportunity U.S. Defense Department expenditures are expected 24 to flatten, according to most forecasts. That’s why Integrated Defense Systems is focusing increasing attention overseas. In fact, international customers represented 13 percent of IDS revenues in 2006—almost double the share of five years ago. Looking forward Boeing is undertaking many activities as it works to 34 build and maintain a long-term presence in Korea. These range from supporting its Korean customers to relying on the nation’s suppliers and undertaking activities that support Korea’s people. OTO H ART P H OCK L MARIAN Stamp of approval Meet Boeing’s Kathy Landino, who’s authorized to 18 issue U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Certificates of Airworthiness for Boeing jetliners after they are flight- OTO H tested. The work of Landino and her fellow FAA airworthiness E P Photographer Ron Bookout documents the designees plays a major role in ensuring that Boeing delivers on G C-17 flight deck manufacturing process. This the promises it makes to customers. 22 work is being done with a new panoramic camera system. ETER GEOR P 6 Letters 8 Historical Perspective 45 Stock Charts 48 Around Boeing INSIDE 7 Notebook 10 New and Notable 46 Milestones 50 Spotlight 4 October 2007 BOEING FRONTIERS As part of its Project Wedgetail airborne early warning and control program, Australia has pur- 24 chased six 737 AEW&C aircraft. OTO H P G BOEIN Where careers lift off Special deliveries Huntsville, Ala.—also known as “Rocket City”—has To help manage an upswing in airplane deliveries, the 38 more engineers per capita than any other city in the 42 Contracts organization of Commercial Airplanes has United States. Here’s a look at some of the work performed at developed a new airplane-delivery process. The goal: Imple- the Boeing site in Huntsville, as seen by several of the facility’s ment leaner, more-efficient and more-responsive processes and employees. systems that increase customer satisfaction. Korean Air representatives watch the recent delivery of their new 777-200ER from the 42 second-story window of Boeing’s Everett (Wash.) Delivery Center. The Contracts organi- zation of Commercial Airplanes has made im- provements in the delivery process to enhance the experience for customers. OTO H WANTZ P WANTZ M WILLIA BOEING FRONTIERS October 2007 5 n LETTERS “A Boeing transit system for employees Editor’s note: Ken Botham, Shared Services Group would in the long run make the company General Services senior manager and the person who Publisher: Tom Downey more productive.” Editorial director: Jo Anne Davis manages Boeing commuting —Martin Nix, Renton, Wash. matters in the Puget Sound EDITORIAL TEAM area, provided this response: Editor: “Thank you for shar- Paul Proctor: (312) 544-2938 ing your comments. My team Managing editor: Washington, the other and I recognize the concerns Junu Kim: (312) 544-2939 up the east side of Lake you’ve listed and are working Designer: Washington, and the other continuously to improve the Rick Moore: (314) 233-5758 to the south. commute for Boeing employ- Commercial Airplanes editor: This system would ees in the Puget Sound area Dick Schleh: (206) 766-2124 have two levels. The first and across the enterprise. Integrated Defense Systems editor: level would be micro- Please note that in the Puget Diane Stratman: (562) 797-1443 buses once every 10 or Sound area, Boeing works Engineering, Operations and 15 minutes, all day long. with local authorities to help Technology editor: The other system would build better public transit William Cole: (314) 232-2186 be macrobuses, and these routes. In addition, our com- Shared Services editor: would run express during muting resources for the area Mick Boroughs: (206) 919-7584 shift changes—going, for include carpool and vanpool Copy editor: example, express from programs. However, at this Walter Polt: (312) 544-2954 Everett to Renton. time, a private bus system is CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Granted, not everyone not feasible because of the Boeing Capital Corp.: would use it, but it would varying needs of employees.” Donna Mikov: (425) 965-4057 make it easier for many For more on commuting to join vanpools and car- options, please visit http:// ONLINE PRODUCTION pools. Someone could drive an commuting.web.boeing.com Production manager: A free ride to work? electric car to Renton, and work on the Boeing intranet and Alma Dayawon: (312) 544-2936 oeing should follow the in Everett, for example. click on your geographic area Web designer: Brecent lead of Microsoft, Why should we do it? Traf- of interest. Michael Craddock: (312) 544-2931 which is planning to start up a fic congestion will only get Graphic artists: mini–transit system for its em- worse as the region’s population Corrections Rick Moore: (314) 233-5758 ployees in the Seattle area. The increases. The price of gasoline Cal Romaneschi: (312) 544-2930 • The caption for the photo system would feature micro- is rising (the transit system on Page 16 of the September Web developers: buses that would have bicycle would operate on alternative 2007 issue incorrectly identi- Lynn Hesby: (312) 544-2934 trailers and also offer WiFi Keith Ward: (312) 544-2935 fuel). A building-to-building fied what object was being Internet access on board. transit system would solve a lot inspected by Boeing employ- Information technology consultant: I think Boeing could put in Tina Skelley: (312) 544-2323 of overloading of parking. And ees Ken Scherban and Richard a frequent-service transit sys- it would save employees the ex- Tolman. They were inspecting tem in the Puget Sound area pense of driving to work. a Common Strategic Rotary How to contact us: of Washington state. It would Similar ideas can be done Launcher. E-mail: be nice if the system had WiFi for Boeing locations outside the • The caption for a photo [email protected] on board, so employees can do Puget Sound area. on Page 43 of the August 2007 Mailing address: work while going to work. I contend that a Boeing issue incorrectly identified in Boeing Frontiers This new system would transit system, just for Boeing which state the U.S. town of MC: 5003-0983 also handle company mail and employees (and contractors), 100 N. Riverside Plaza Pass Christian is located. Pass Chicago, IL 60606 company cargo—thus helping would in the long run make Christian is in Mississippi. pay for itself. Longacres (the Phone: the company more produc- (312) 544-2954 Boeing Commercial Airplanes tive—and help reduce the cost Fax: headquarters building) could be of transportation. (312) 544-2078 a “grand central station” with —Martin Nix Web address: three routes radiating out: one Renton, Wash. www.boeing.com/frontiers up the west side of Lake Send all retiree address changes to Boeing Frontiers, MC 3T-12 P.O. Box 3707 Seattle, WA 98124-2207 Letters guidelines Postmaster: Send address corrections Boeing Frontiers provides its letters page for readers to state The opinions may not necessarily reflect those of The Boeing to Boeing Frontiers, MC 3T-12 their opinions. The page is intended to encourage an exchange Company. Letters must include name, organization and a tele- P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, WA 98124-2207 of ideas and information that stimulates dialogue on issues or phone number for verification purposes. Letters may be edited (Present addressees, include label) events in the company or the aerospace industry. for grammar, syntax and size. 6 October 2007 BOEING FRONTIERS n NOTEBOOK SNAPSHOT A STORM’S A-BREWIN’ This view of Hurricane Felix over the Caribbean Sea was taken in early September from the International Space Station by an Expedition 15 crewmem- ber. Boeing is the prime contractor for the ISS. NASA PHOTO QUOTABLE he 787 “opens up a t makes us feel alive and e planned the flight whole new continent for very involved and equal almost a year ago Tus.” Iparticipants in the Boeing Wand achieved it on —Edward C.