Boeing Aerostructures Australia

Today the business designs, tests, certifies and produces world class advanced structures including the moveable trailing edge (MTE) of the most technically advanced commercial aircraft in the world – the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Boeing Aerostructures Australia manufactures the Inboard Flaps, Outboard Flaps, Ailerons and Flaperons of the 787 using a unique carbon fibre material system and production technology developed in on-site called controlled atmospheric pressure resin infusion (CAPRI).

This is Australia’s largest aerospace contract valued at $5 billion over 20 years, and Fishermans Bend is the only Boeing location in the world to apply the unique CAPRI process that enables the components to be cured in an oven instead of a traditional autoclave. Boeing Aerostructures Australia has invested $70 million in site improvements to support 787 production increases over the next decade.

These types of innovations in technology and investments are due to Boeing’s long-term view of its business in Australia; its investment in the training and development of its people, and its deep belief in research and development to create the next generation of manufacturing technology.

Boeing Aerostructures Australia worked hand-in-hand with Boeing Global Technology – Australia to develop this highly valued intellectual property. It requires less infrastructure, labour and energy to produce a composite part and the efficiency savings created using resin-infused composite materials also contribute to increased fuel savings on the aircraft. The co-location of the two organisations is also advancing the company’s application of advanced composite and automation.

In addition to work on the 787 moveable trailing edge, Boeing Aerostructures Australia’s 1,100 employees produce flight control surface components such as 737 rudders, winglets and ailerons, as well as 777 cove lip doors, elevators and rudders.

LEAN manufacturing systems have long played an important part in manufacturing efficiencies at Fishermans Bend and Boeing Aerostructures Australia see this as an ongoing process of continuous improvement. The company is also strongly committed to Boeing’s global Go4Zero campaign, focused on achieving an injury free workforce, one day at a time.

From Melbourne, all aircraft components are shipped to the United States for final assembly at Boeing’s factories in Charleston, South Carolina and Everett and Renton in Washington State.

Boeing Aerostructures Australia has strong partnerships with the local community, including university partnerships with RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Melbourne and community groups including OzHarvest and Mission Australia.

In addition, Boeing Aerostructures Australia also works with Australian suppliers such as Lovitt Technologies Australia, H&H and Marand, along with a range of Melbourne industry groups to support best practice sharing within the Victorian manufacturing industry.