Boeing Wants to Build its Next Airplane in the 'Metaverse'
2021-12-26
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1In the Boeing company's aircraft factory of the future, 3-D engineering designs work with robots that talk to each other.
2At the same time, mechanics around the world will be linked in through Microsoft headsets that provide a mixed reality experience.
3The Boeing plan aims to unite design, production and airline services operations under a single, digital manufacturing system.
4The company says it will put in place in the next two years.
5Boeing has repeatedly expressed its goal of a digital revolution,
6but critics say the company's efforts toward the goal have had mixed results.
7Industry observers say the goals of improving quality and safety have grown more important as the company faces several threats.
8The airplane maker is trying to regain the trust of fliers after the 737 MAX crisis.
9That plane that was grounded for more than two years after two crashes blamed on electrical problems.
10The company says is starting a future aircraft program over the next 10 years that will cost $15 billion.
11It also aims to prevent future manufacturing problems like the structural problems that affected the 787 Dreamliner over the past year.
12"It's about strengthening engineering," Boeing's chief engineer, Greg Hyslop, told Reuters.
13"We are talking about changing the way we work across the entire company," he added.
14After years of wild changes in the industry's market, the demand for new airplanes has heightened the competition between Boeing and Europe's Airbus.
15Now, their battle moves into factory operations.
16Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury is a former automobile research executive.
17He has promised to "invent new production systems and leverage the power of data" to move its industrial system into the 21st century.
18Boeing's digital improvement to date has been marked by progress within certain airplane programs or tools.
19It has not undergone a total, digital remodel like the kind Hyslop is proposing.
20The airplane manufacturers are not alone in their goal to enter the so-called metaverse, a shared digital space that employs virtual reality technology.
21Automakers like Ford, social media companies like Facebook owner Meta Platforms and other businesses are making similar moves.
22Boeing wants development of its next aircraft to include a link to a three-dimensional digital model of the new plane.
23It also wants the production system to be able to run simulations.
24The digital models are backed by a "digital thread" that collects every piece of information about the aircraft starting on its first day of development.
25This includes airline requirements records, millions of equipment parts, thousands of pages of official approvals, and beyond.
26Ending outdated methods, like designing on paper, could bring powerful change.
27More than 70 percent of quality issues at Boeing have something to do with design, Hyslop said.
28Boeing believes digital tools will be important to bringing a new aircraft to market in as little as four or five years.
29"You will get speed, you will get improved quality, better communication," Hyslop said.
30Yet the plan faces major difficulty in execution.
31Automotive experts point to technical problems on two of Boeing's military training aircraft.
32Both were developed using digital systems.
33Boeing has been too concerned about shareholder returns, says Richard Aboulafia an expert with the Teal Group.
34He said the company's engineering expertise has been hurt as a result.
35The company continues to cut spending on research, he added.
36Large companies like aircraft parts maker Spirit AeroSystems have already invested in digital technology.
37But hundreds of smaller suppliers around the world do not have the money or skilled labor to make important, digital changes to their manufacturing systems.
38Industry experts say Boeing has come to realize that digital technology alone will not be enough.
39They say the company also must make organizational and cultural changes.
40I'm Jonathan Evans.
1In the Boeing company's aircraft factory of the future, 3-D engineering designs work with robots that talk to each other. At the same time, mechanics around the world will be linked in through Microsoft headsets that provide a mixed reality experience. 2The Boeing plan aims to unite design, production and airline services operations under a single, digital manufacturing system. The company says it will put in place in the next two years. 3Boeing has repeatedly expressed its goal of a digital revolution, but critics say the company's efforts toward the goal have had mixed results. Industry observers say the goals of improving quality and safety have grown more important as the company faces several threats. 4The airplane maker is trying to regain the trust of fliers after the 737 MAX crisis. That plane that was grounded for more than two years after two crashes blamed on electrical problems. 5The company says is starting a future aircraft program over the next 10 years that will cost $15 billion. 6It also aims to prevent future manufacturing problems like the structural problems that affected the 787 Dreamliner over the past year. 7"It's about strengthening engineering," Boeing's chief engineer, Greg Hyslop, told Reuters. 8"We are talking about changing the way we work across the entire company," he added. 9After years of wild changes in the industry's market, the demand for new airplanes has heightened the competition between Boeing and Europe's Airbus. Now, their battle moves into factory operations. 10Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury is a former automobile research executive. He has promised to "invent new production systems and leverage the power of data" to move its industrial system into the 21st century. 11Boeing's digital improvement to date has been marked by progress within certain airplane programs or tools. It has not undergone a total, digital remodel like the kind Hyslop is proposing. 12A new way 13The airplane manufacturers are not alone in their goal to enter the so-called metaverse, a shared digital space that employs virtual reality technology. Automakers like Ford, social media companies like Facebook owner Meta Platforms and other businesses are making similar moves. 14Boeing wants development of its next aircraft to include a link to a three-dimensional digital model of the new plane. It also wants the production system to be able to run simulations. 15The digital models are backed by a "digital thread" that collects every piece of information about the aircraft starting on its first day of development. This includes airline requirements records, millions of equipment parts, thousands of pages of official approvals, and beyond. 16Go with the new 17Ending outdated methods, like designing on paper, could bring powerful change. 18More than 70 percent of quality issues at Boeing have something to do with design, Hyslop said. Boeing believes digital tools will be important to bringing a new aircraft to market in as little as four or five years. 19"You will get speed, you will get improved quality, better communication," Hyslop said. 20Enormous challenge 21Yet the plan faces major difficulty in execution. 22Automotive experts point to technical problems on two of Boeing's military training aircraft. Both were developed using digital systems. 23Boeing has been too concerned about shareholder returns, says Richard Aboulafia an expert with the Teal Group. He said the company's engineering expertise has been hurt as a result. The company continues to cut spending on research, he added. 24Large companies like aircraft parts maker Spirit AeroSystems have already invested in digital technology. But hundreds of smaller suppliers around the world do not have the money or skilled labor to make important, digital changes to their manufacturing systems. 25Industry experts say Boeing has come to realize that digital technology alone will not be enough. They say the company also must make organizational and cultural changes. 26I'm Jonathan Evans. 27The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 28__________________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 303-D (three dimensional) - adj. made in a way that causes an image to appear to be three-dimensional, or having height, width and length 31mechanic - n. a person who repairs machines (such as car engines) and keeps them running properly 32digital -adj. using computer technology; created through electronic devices, not physically real 33leverage - v. to use (something valuable) to reach a desired result usually of equal or greater value 34virtual reality - n. a world of images and sounds created by a computer which is not physical that is affected by the actions of a person who is experiencing it 35simulation - n. something that is made to look, feel, or behave like something else especially so that it can be studied or used to train people 36thread - n. (computer) a series of related pieces of information (such as messages on a computer system) that follow in order of time or as steps in a group of activities 37We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.