RENTON, Wash. — Manufacturing was paused at Boeing's Renton production facility this week so workers could participate in "quality improvement sessions."
NTSB investigators are taking a closer look at the inner workings of the company's 737 Max line with continued concerns after a door panel blew off on a 737 Max 9 in mid-air earlier this month.
On Friday, Seattle based aviation expert John Nance said the plane itself is solid and the issue with the plane stems from a production problem at Boeing's Renton factory.
"This is not just another Max problem. This has nothing to do with that," he said. "This is a door that was installed incorrectly in the factory in Renton. There's going to be a story behind that. By the same token, this plane is not only perfectly good, there was never anything wrong with it aerodynamically."
The issues don't rest with the Max 9.
Southwest Airlines said it is no longer planning to buy any Max 7s this year because the plane is still not certified by the FAA.
United Airlines announced it's reconsidering buying the upcoming Max 10.
And the FAA is forbidding any production expansion of Max jets and is ordering increased oversight of Boeing and its suppliers.
"I believe we're at a tipping point for Boeing in terms of the philosophies that were brought into play when (former Boeing CEO) Harry Stonecipher came in from McDonnell Douglas. I think that was a disaster for the company in so many different ways," said Nance, mincing no words. "Part of the reason is because everything started with the bottom line instead of on quality first and let the money come."
While in Renton the NTSB will review relevant documentation and build an accident timeline to determine if human error played a role in the Man 9 blowout that occurred in early January. Among the things investigators will be looking closely at are Boeing's in-house facility operations and the performance of its employees, including fatigue, medical issues, training, and work environment.
Nance believes the company must repair its reputation with both the public and its purchasers.
"First and foremost there must be complete transparency when the NTSB finishes and makes an announcement. Boeing needs to tell us absolutely everything they can about what happened and how it happened," said Nance.
The NTSB's Friday visit was its second to Boeing and sources say it likely will not be the last.
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