Santiago Paredes, a former quality inspector at Spirit Aerosystems, shed light on alarming revelations regarding the manufacturing practices at the company, Boeing’s largest supplier. Paredes disclosed that fuselages leaving the factory were often riddled with serious defects, with up to 200 issues identified on parts intended for shipment to Boeing. Despite his efforts to address these concerns, Paredes faced resistance and was even dubbed “showstopper” for slowing down production in an attempt to rectify these issues.
While Spirit Aerosystems vehemently denied Paredes’ allegations, stating that they “strongly disagreed” with his claims and were actively contesting them, Paredes provided detailed insights into his experiences during his tenure at Spirit, spanning from 2010 to 2022. He recounted encountering a multitude of defects, ranging from missing fasteners to bent and missing parts, on fuselages earmarked for Boeing aircraft.
The scrutiny on Spirit and Boeing intensified following an alarming incident involving a dislodged door on a new 737 Max aircraft, attributed to faulty riveting during installation. This incident prompted an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) into production practices at both companies, revealing multiple instances of non-compliance with manufacturing standards.
Paredes underscored the pressure he faced to overlook defects and expedite shipments, highlighting a culture focused on meeting quotas and schedules at the expense of product quality. Despite his diligence in identifying defects, he faced reprimands and pressure to be less thorough in his inspections.
Paredes’ revelations are part of ongoing legal action initiated by shareholders against Spirit Aerosystems, accusing the company of concealing widespread quality deficiencies that ultimately led to financial losses. Despite his efforts to raise concerns internally, Paredes faced retaliation and was demoted before ultimately lodging an ethics complaint and departing from the company.
The collaboration between Spirit and Boeing, once intertwined due to their shared history, has come under strain as Spirit grapples with financial losses and Boeing provides financial assistance while considering the repurchase of its former subsidiary. Efforts to address quality concerns have reportedly resulted in a reduction of faults in parts leaving Spirit’s factory, although challenges persist.
Paredes’ revelations serve as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent quality control measures and adherence to manufacturing standards in the aerospace industry. They underscore the critical need to prioritize passenger safety and uphold the highest standards of quality in aircraft production processes.