SEATTLE—Boeing has pushed some factory work on the 787 Dreamliner to the uncovered tarmac outside its assembly plant in Washington state in an effort to keep churning out the popular plane at a rate of one every three days. At the same time, at least 16 Italian-made fuselage sections for the 787 have stacked up in a Boeing hangar in Wichita, KS, rather than being shipped directly to the factory, a sign of changes in the production process.

NORTH CHARLESON, SC—Boeing said on Friday that “hairline cracks” had been discovered in the wings of about 40 787 Dreamliners that are in production, marking another setback for the company’s newest jet. The cracks have not been found on planes that are in use by airlines and therefore posed no safety risk.

SEATTLE—Since late last year, Boeing 787 Dreamliner fuselage sections from North Charleston, SC, have arrived at the final assembly line in Everett, WA, seriously incomplete with wiring and hydraulics lines missing, according to multiple sources in the factory.

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC—Boeing is adding more contractors at its 787 assembly plant here, acknowledging unspecified “challenges” as it prepares to make a new, longer version of the Dreamliner.

A test-centric assembly process would have helped Boeing and Airbus avoid problems with their new aircraft.

Several respondents to my original blog say the 787's battery problems are a minor blip that Boeing will correct quickly. My impression is that the battery is becoming aviation’s equivalent of the Ford Pinto.

Did cost-cutting strategy jeopardize the production of what should have been an engineering triumph?