Boeing looking for more partners to develop in areas beyond fuselage production of aircraft

Boeing hopes to develop ties with Japanese firms
Date: Jun 16, 2014
Source: NHK World

US aircraft maker Boeing is seeking the participation of Japanese firms in producing not only aircraft fuselage, but a wide range of related systems and other products for Boeing.

Boeing held a meeting in Tokyo to explain its plans to Japanese firms on Monday. It was attended by officials from Boeing and the US embassy, as well as those from Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and about 30 companies including major automakers and home electronics makers.

Boeing’s Japan President, George Maffeo, expressed hopes of developing ties with Japanese firms in areas beyond fuselage production. He praised Japanese makers for their good quality products and punctuality.

Japanese companies produced about 35 percent of the products for the fuselage of Boeing’s 787. Boeing announced last week that it had reached an agreement with 5 Japanese companies for them to produce about 21 percent of major components for the next generation wide-body 777X, which is under development.

According to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, Japanese firms have made almost no progress in joining the production of systems such as electronic devices for the cockpit.

Nissan Motor was among the Japanese firms present at the meeting. Koichi Iwata, a manager at Nissan Motor, says the company has no business experience with the aircraft industry, but he thinks technology used in automobiles can be applied to aircraft. He says he wants to expand business.