In 2018 and 2019, Boeing suffered two 737 MAX aircraft safety incidents, resulting in 346 deaths, which had a significant negative impact on Boeing's brand image and company operations. Originally, everyone thought that Boeing would deeply learn the lessons of the incident, "change the past", and deeply examine its own quality and safety issues. However, things are far from that simple.
On February 26, the FAA, the U.S. aviation regulator, released a 50-page report saying that Boeing's senior management and employees were "disconnected" in terms of safety culture, and that there was a lack of awareness of safety-related metrics at all levels of the company. The report had an impact on Boeing's image. Especially considering that Boeing is currently dealing with the impact of the 737 Max 9 door drop incident in January this year.
The panel that issued the report found that Boeing had "deficiencies and confusion" in the implementation of its corporate safety culture. The report identifies 27 concerns and makes 53 recommendations, including standardizing safety training and improving transparency in handling employee complaints.
The U.S. FAA said it would "immediately begin a comprehensive evaluation of the report and determine the appropriate next steps based on its recommendations."
The report also summarizes the safety measures Boeing has taken to enhance safety in the wake of the two MAX crashes, such as the creation of a system called Freedom of Expression** that allows employees to anonymously report concerns about production quality, safety and business ethics. However, some employees who were interviewed by the expert group expressed distrust of the system and preferred to discuss issues directly with their managers. The report also said that Boeing employees did not know "when and which reporting system to use."
While Boeing has made improvements in how it supervises such employees, the changes could still lead to "retaliatory behavior, particularly in terms of pay and leave," the report said.
The report also mentions that pilots' opinions, even if they come from within Boeing, have not been consistently addressed in the aircraft design process, especially when "pilots don't play an important role." "It is not possible to ensure that the flight safety concerns raised by the pilots are adequately addressed," the report said. ”
All in all, this report defines Boeing's quality and safety work, that is, "repeated teachings"! Failure to make improvements in strict accordance with the requirements of the FAA. Therefore, it is understandable that Boeing's products have been having problems.