Frontierswww.boeing.com/frontiers APRIL 2011 / Volume IX, Issue XI Light fantastic Rapid advances in laser technology are turning science fiction into reality BOEING FRONTIERS / APRIL 2011 On the Cover Focused on the future Lasers are used daily at Boeing, from helping mechanics align fuselage sections of commercial jetliners to displaying livery patterns on those same jets when they are in the paint shop. Lasers also are revolutionizing warfare, and in the field 20 of directed-energy systems, Boeing and others are rapidly advancing this speed-of-light technology. COVER IMAGE: Boeing electrophysics engineer Mark Laine, left, and Matt NIxon, A Technical Fellow in Directed Energy Systems, test A laser in neutralizing A simulated improvised Explosive device at Boeing’S AlbuquerquE, N.M., site. BOB FERGuSON/BOEING PHOTO: ThE Airborne Laser Test BEd, A modified 747, is readied for another test flighT. BOB FERGuSON/BOEING Ad watch The stories behind the ads in this issue of Frontiers. Inside cover: Page 6: Back cover: This ad was developed In December 2010, In January, Hainan to recognize the Qatar was named host Airlines was awarded U.S. Air Force’s selection country for the 2022 the prestigious 5-star of the Boeing KC-46A as FIFA World Cup, the rating by SkyTrax, the its next-generation aerial international soccer world’s largest airline refueling tanker. The ad tournament held every and airport review ran in The Washington four years. In celebration, website. It is only the Post and key regional, Boeing developed an seventh airline in the defense and trade ad congratulating Qatar world, and the first publications. on the honor. The ad Chinese airline, to ran in Al Sharq and Arrayah, which are local achieve this status. Boeing developed this publications. congratulatory ad, featured in China Business News, 21st Century Business Herald and CAAC Journal. The campaign also featured an online component. BOEING FRONTIERS / APRIL 2011 3 Frontiers publisher: Tom Downey Editorial director: Anne Toulouse EdITORIAL TEAM Executive editor: Paul Proctor: 312-544-2938 Editor: table of contents James Wallace: 312-544-2161 Managing editor: INSIdE Vineta Plume: 312-544-2954 Historical Art and design director: Brandon Luong: 312-544-2118 10 Perspective Dream line 07 Leadership Message photo director: 44 From crude sketches on a notepad, Bob Ferguson: 312-544-2132 These are heady times for the 787 program, Environmental performance is one of the North American Aviation’s NA-16 was with momentum building in anticipation of first measures by which Boeing’s success Commercial Airplanes editor: born, launching one of Boeing’s heritage Don Smith: 206-766-1329 deliveries to airline customers. On the final is judged, says Mary Armstrong, vice companies into the military trainer business. assembly line at the Boeing plant in Everett, defense, Space & Security editor: president of Environment, Health and The NA-16 flew for the first time 76 years Wash., employees are hard at work assembling Diane Stratman: 562-797-1443 ago this month. Over time, improved the Dreamliners that will usher in a new chapter Safety. And employees throughout Engineering, Operations & Technology versions were developed including the in aviation history. They are “Working on a Boeing are finding ways, big and editor: AT-6 Texan, one of the most recognized Dream,” as captured in this photo essay. small, to help the company run a Junu Kim: 312-544-2939 and famous of all military aviation trainers. photo: Bob Ferguson/boeing healthy business and make continuous human Resources and Administration phOTO: ERIk SIMONSEN/BOEING environmental improvements. editor: Geoff Potter: 312-544-2946 Shared Services Group editor: 08 Snapshot/Quotables Beriah Osorio: 425-577-4157 Staff writer: High points Eric Fetters-Walp: 425-266-5871 09 Why We’re Here 1426 Being recognized for good work can make ONLINE pROduCTION a big difference in how employees feel about their jobs at Boeing. Recognition web manager: 54 Milestones Wendy Manning: 312-544-2936 can take many forms, from a simple “great job” email from a co-worker or boss web designer: Michael Craddock: 312-544-2931 to Pride@Boeing points that can be used 58 In Focus at the Boeing Store to a cash award, all web developers: Lynn Hesby: 312-544-2934 through the Boeing Recognition Program. Keith Ward: 312-544-2935 A cross-company team including the Information technology consultant: Boeing Stores has been working to Tina Skelley: 312-544-2323 make recognition more meaningful for employees. PHOTO: bob ferguson/boeing hOw TO CONTACT uS: E-mail: [email protected] Mailing address: No. 1 on Taking flight Boeing Frontiers Boeing’s F-15E Mission Training MC: 5003-0983 16 the runway Centers program, which has ground- 100 N. Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606 Boeing Commercial Airplanes President based training simulators at three phone: and CEO Jim Albaugh and his team are locations around the world, has been 312-544-2954 focused on regaining market leadership. scoring impressive business results. Yet Fax: To accomplish this, Commercial Airplanes this was a program that had problems 312-544-2078 employees are following a game plan that early on. What turned things around? web address: involves seven strategies for getting back Building stronger relationships with www.boeing.com/frontiers to the top—and staying there. employees and the customer. Send all retiree address changes to phOTO: JIM ANdERSON/BOEING phOTO: RIChARd RAu/BOEING Boeing Frontiers, MC 3T-12 P.O. Box 3707 Seattle, WA 98124-2207 32 postmaster: Send address corrections to Boeing Frontiers, MC 3T-12 P.O. Box 3707, Seattle, WA 98124-2207 (Present addressees, include label) BOEING FRONTIERS / APRIL 2011 5 Leadership Message Running a healthy business Environmental performance is a key indicator of business results Every day, in crew meetings and conference rooms around Boeing, we track the health of our business. Each of us plays a pivotal role in our continued success by: • Improving quality and productivity • Streamlining processes and reducing waste • Enhancing workplace safety • Engaging employees to generate innovative ideas to help “ It’s exciting how Boeing Boeing stay ahead of the competition and shape the market leverages our environmental for aerospace products In short, we measure continuous improvement as a sign of performance to create running a healthy business. a market advantage for To the metrics listed above, I suggest we include one additional measure, and that involves improving our environmental performance. our products.” Boeing set aggressive environmental improvement targets for our facilities and, since 2002, cut energy use and carbon emissions – Mary Armstrong by nearly one-third and water consumption and hazardous-waste Vice president, Boeing Environment, Health and Safety generation by more than 40 percent. phOTO: BOEING By eliminating environmental waste and conserving resources, we have saved millions of dollars in cost, making our products more competitive in the market. just a snapshot of the many environmental achievements we see In the past few months, Boeing sites in Charleston, S.C., Hunts- throughout the year from Lean+ events, supplier collaboration, ville, Ala., and Philadelphia have joined Salt Lake City in eliminating Green Team efforts, volunteerism and more. (Read about a solid waste sent to landfills. This indicates that these manufacturing Boeing Green Team, at the Wichita, Kan., site, on Page 43.) sites are improving processes and operating efficiently. This month, It’s exciting how Boeing leverages our environmental perfor- The Boeing Company is set to receive an ENERGY STAR Partner mance to create a market advantage for our products. None of this of the Year award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would be possible without the energy, enthusiasm and expertise for our ongoing commitment to protecting the environment through of people throughout the company in finding ways—both big and energy efficiency in our internal operations. small—to generate continuous environmental improvements. Environmental improvements have played a major role in our Earth Day is now in its fourth decade of inspiring awareness and recent business successes. Sales of the 787 Dreamliner and encouraging participation in the appreciation and protection of our 747-8 are the result of responding to customer demands for planet. I participated in the first Earth Day by walking to school instead cleaner, more fuel-efficient airplanes. A key component of our of riding the bus. Little did I know how much that early experience P-8A Poseidon and KC-46A tanker wins involved responding would come to be so meaningful to me personally and professionally. to Defense Department requests for airplanes that can be Every day, people throughout Boeing make both small and operated and maintained using fewer toxic chemicals. large contributions to improve our environmental performance. This month, thousands of Boeing employees will participate Like other indicators of a healthy business, continuous environ- in Earth Day projects around the world, many aimed at protecting mental improvements ensure our place as the global leader in natural resources and improving performance at our operations— aerospace technology. n BOEING FRONTIERS / LEADERSHIP MESSAGE 7 Snapshot why we’re here Success story Creating an environment of diversity and inclusion benefits employees and the company By donna douglas Donna Douglas is the cultural diversity and inclusion manager for Boeing sites FASTEN yOuR seat belts in Kansas and Oklahoma, where she works with site leaders, diversity councils and affinity groups to help enhance employees’ professional development, The 787 Dreamliner and the exotic McLaren MP4-12C sports car have more in common than a sleek, aerodynamic look. Both make advance understanding and respect for diverse cultural perspectives, and extensive use of lightweight carbon fiber composite technology. Road & Track magazine recently featured an interview on advanced enable an inclusive work environment. In this Frontiers series that profiles composites and the Dreamliner with Boeing’s Mike Sinnett, vice president and chief project engineer for the 787.