Boeing: Smaller steps will add up to big changes

SHARE Boeing: Smaller steps will add up to big changes

Boeing Co. will look to make smaller innovations in airplane design in the future instead of trying to take giant technological leaps.

The Chicago-based aerospace company wants to adopt Apple Inc.’s approach to product development and borrow from the automotive and consumer electronics industries, Boeing executives said during an investors conference Wednesday.

“Our mind-set will be to avoid the moon shot,” chief executive Jim McNerney said, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The change comes after Boeing has struggled getting its 787 Dreamliner to market and then to ramp up production.

Executives also said Boeing will cut another $2.1 billion in costs from the defense operations over the next five years.

Separately, the company announced it finalized an order from Nok Airlines for 15 airplanes, a $1.45 billion deal based on sticker prices. Thailand-based Nok Air ordered eight NG 737-800s and seven 737 Max-8s.

Boeing CEO wants incremental innovation, not ‘moon shots’ (Wall Street Journal)

Why Boeing Works So Hard to Avoid ‘Moonshots’ (Businessweek)

Boeing wants to fly us to the next frontier

Will Dreamliner costs become a nightmare for Boeing?

Timeline: Boeing’s Dreamliner saga

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