Boeing to reopen South Carolina Dreamliner factory

Boeing 787-9 in the 'Dreams Take Flight' livery. Photo by Preston Fiedler | AeroNewsX

Boeing announced on Monday 27th April that it would resume operations at the Boeing South Carolina plant, with staff expected to return on 3 May 2020 or 4 May 2020.

Earlier this month, Boeing announced the suspension of service of the production of the 787 aircraft at the Boeing South Carolina factory due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The plant was closed after the state government issued an order asking residents to stay at home and leave home only for essential trips. In March, Boeing also suspended operations for commercial aircraft production in Puget Sound.

Boeing will resume operations with senior leaders and managers returning prior to the reopening of the plant. Boeing managers will contact their team members about returning to work whilst members who are able to work from home will continue to work from home. Senior leaders will return on the 30th of April 2020, while managers will return on 1 May 2020 in order to prepare for the resumption of operations. Teammates in the third shift will return on 3 May 2020, and the first and second shift teammates will return on the 4th of May 2020.

Vice President and General Manager of the 787 programme, Brad Zaback, said "The health and safety of our teammates, their families and our community is our shared priority. Our approach to resumption of operations ensures we honour that priority by ensuring personal protective equipment is readily available and that all necessary safety measures are in place to resume essential work for our customers and prioritize the health and safety of our team. We have also taken the necessary steps to ensure a steady supply base for our operations."

Employees returning to work are encouraged to wear face masks, which is not mandatory except for those working in close proximity to one another.

Boeing has stepped up measures and taken extra precaution to ensure the health and safety of teammates. Boeing has also enhanced cleaning of all buildings, posted signage throughout the site to help keep enhanced cleanliness at the top-of-mind, added new hand sanitisation stations across the site and installed visual cues to ensure staff practice safe distancing.