Local assembly plants are cranking out airplanes, pushing Boeing way past Airbus in jet deliveries. The Seattle Times reports Boeing’s Plane Output Climbs Even as Jobs Decline. You have covered them: trucking, strawberry/cabbage picking, etc.*Ex-Boeing Employeeīoeing’s Plane Output Climbs Even as Jobs Decline *People I know in the robotic business tell me 60% of today’s jobs will be gone in 20 years. Since 1967 there has been a 72% reduction in the number of people it takes to build an airplane! When I joined Boeing in 1967, Puget Sound had 120,000 employees and Boeing delivered about 300 airplanes (from memory).
In 2015, 79300 Boeing employees delivering 700 airplanes. On opening day, IAM was greeted by a huge, giant robot welcoming them. The same happened at the new Propulsion assembly plant in Charleston. The new 777X composite wing plant in Everett shocked the IAM (machinists union) as to how few new jobs were needed. I have a MSME (master of science in mechanical engineering).
I spent 37 years at Boeing as a design engineer (1967-2004). You are 100% correct about the impact of robots in aircraft manufacturing and elsewhere.
