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Someone wrote:
"The new business model Boeing has in mind
is one in which all airlines would agree to
use standard technical manuals rather than
customize them themselves for their own mechanics. "
and someone else added:
Does anybody know what that Boeing tech pubs group
does? Do they develop or test the content, or do
they just manage the publishing workflow?
I worked for Boeing in the early 80's in the
Aerospace division, not the Airplane division,
but discussions with folks revealed the following.
They occasionally consulted with our welding department.
Each plane is built as a custom job with many
parts changed for a particular customer. Engines,
Aux Power Units, internal configuration, navigation
electronics, seating flexibility designs, restroom
configurations, galley arrangements could all be
customized. Each customer wanted
specific items to simplify their maintenance work.
Airline A wants Rolls-Royce engines, company B wants
all GE engines, since every plane they have and all
of their maintenance facilities are set up for that
particular engine.
The resulting "user manual" has to be tailored for
each aircraft.
<speculation>
I suspect that Boeing is attempting to use a more
modular approach and assemble a user manual from
a set of smaller focused manuals instead of a
custom set of manuals for each aircraft.
<speculation/>
Even then Boeing had a reputation for a 10
year high and low employment cycle. One problem
with Seattle & Boeing is that the employees were
essentially a captive workforce. There were no
other Aerospace companies in the area other than
Boeing. They could control the market, as opposed
to the San Francisco or Los Angeles areas with
several companies to choose from.
CB - escapee from Boeing, by choice, not layoff
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