767 Case study

Two-person cockpits, technologically speaking, made three-person cockpits unnecessary. In 1978 airframe manufacturers (led by Boeing) and The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) agreed that this typeof cockpit presented no unusual safety issues. For that reason airframe manufacturers could offer this new technology. Right away all the airlines that already have requested the brand new 767aircraft reacted, asking Boeing to include this type of configuration in their new aircrafts. (United airlines, Delta Airlines and American Airlines) At the moment of the general agreement 30 planes werealmost ready to roll out and Boing was forced to design a contingency plan immediately. The new digital technology in control, navigation and flying systems was available and this challenge was theperfect opportunity that Boeing had to move forward in the aircraft production business, key fact that reinforced Boeing’s decision to move on and modify, as soon as possible, 30 airplanes almost ready tofly. The decision has to be made taking into account which approach the company should follow. The options were: Completion of production and subsequent modification or Modification during production.In the first option production wouldn’t be delayed because the modifications would be made separately from the normal production flow, testing could be done originally as planned, system failure orrelated problems within the new cockpit configuration could be concentrated and was cheaper compared with the other option due to the additional labor hours, however parts for three-person cockpitwould be installed initially in place to be removed in order to install the parts for the new configuration cockpit, some operational systems might be disrupted and special parking plan regarding spacelimitations for modifying 30 planes, special fire control plans and waivers would be deployed.
The modification during production ensures that all parts were installed only once, all activities...