Joe Wilson

Joe Means Jobs: From the Orangeburg Times and Democrat Newspaper….

ISSUE: Boeing’s commitment to S.C.

OUR VIEW: Company offers opportunities locally, both direct and indirect

The impact of Boeing’s decision to build the 787 Dreamliner aircraft in South Carolina continues grow in significance. Just as BMW meant major development for the Upstate and beyond, Boeing is doing the same for Charleston, with impact in The T&D region and beyond.

Most recently, Boeing made a further commitment to South Carolina, announcing the company has chosen the state as the location for fabrication and assembly of airplane interior parts to supply the 787 Dreamliner final assembly and delivery site under construction in North Charleston. The company is reviewing potential sites for the new airplane interiors facility and anticipates making a final decision by midsummer.

“Boeing’s investment in South Carolina continues to enhance our state’s ever-growing aerospace industry,” Gov. Mark Sanford said. “The infusion of new jobs and investment that will come from this announcement reinforces the fact that our emphasis on improving business soil conditions brings real-world economic gains.”

The growth sparked by Boeing will include location of industries supplying the aircraft manufacturer. Orangeburg County, with its proximity to Boeing’s facilities and major travel arteries Interstates 26 and 95, stands to benefit. Whether its from a facility such as the newly announced Boeing one or others, this county and our region are open for business.

Already, there is the expansion of job opportunities for people here.

The new facility, Boeing Fabrication Interiors South Carolina, will be located near the North Charleston final assembly and delivery site. As many as 150 employees will work at the new interiors facility, which will serve as an extension of the existing Interiors Responsibility Center in Everett, Wash., leveraging the opportunities of a single, integrated production system. The new facility will require skilled workers in a range of disciplines that include assembly mechanics, major equipment operators, supply chain logistics, engineering, quality, project managers and management.

The Boeing Fabrication Interiors South Carolina team will manufacture 787 interior parts, including stow bins, closets, partitions, class dividers, floor-mounted stow bins used by flight attendants, overhead flight-crew rests, overhead flight attendant crew rests, video-control stations and attendant modules.

The latest decision is part of Boeing’s plan announced in 2009 to provide an independent sourcing stream for 787 final assembly and delivery in South Carolina. The proximity of this new facility to Boeing’s Charleston site will help improve the efficiency of the final assembly and delivery process in South Carolina.

“By expanding Boeing’s footprint in South Carolina, we enhance our existing foundation with Boeing Charleston and further contribute to the growth of aerospace in the region,” said Ray Conner, vice president and general manager, Supply Chain Management and Operations, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Ultimately, the decision we made in 2009 builds on our overall strategy to successfully meet our 787 customer commitments and to optimize our production capability.”

Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor is right in describing Boeing’s decision as “more exciting news. … Boeing continues to yield great opportunities for our state, and this new interiors facility brings with it more jobs and more investment, which will benefit South Carolina now and in the years ahead.”