787 mid-body job precedence networks for improving production rate

Abstract

In a complex manufacturing environment, generating schedules, identifying deviations, and recovering from delays have a significant impact on total operational performance. At Boeing's 787 plant, a precedence network was generated which defines the entire build sequence for a mid-body fuselage. This job-level build sequence enables planners to generate optimized and feasible resource-constrained schedules. The network also forms the foundation for a visual control system on the factory floor. This web-based tool is designed to improve routine production control decisions at all levels by presenting build status in a cohesive and concise format. Using this tool, the plant's stakeholders can effectively identify and prioritize schedule deviations before they cascade lead to major delays, resulting in an overall improvement in resource efficiency and production rate.