Robots: Joining the Boeing workforce

Jessica Buxbaum Jul 1, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Robots: Joining the Boeing workforce</h1>
                <h2><p>Boeing said today that it’s in the final phases of testing new technology for building 777 fuselages, replacing people with robots to fasten fuselage panels together. Currently, fuselage panels are fastened together by hand with power tools, a repetitive and strenuous task that the company said accounts for more</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/jrb211-humboldt-edu/">Jessica Buxbaum</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>Boeing <a href="http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2014-07-14-Boeing-Introduces-New-Method-for-Building-777-Fuselages?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">said today</a> that it’s in the final phases of testing new technology for building 777 fuselages, replacing people with robots to fasten fuselage panels together. Currently, fuselage panels are fastened together by hand with power tools, a repetitive and strenuous task that the company said accounts for more than half of all employee injuries on the 777 program. Within the next few years, Boeing plans to install the Fuselage Automated Upright Build technology in a new portion of Everett’s main factory. The company noted that it is preparing to build the new line of 777X airplanes there. — E.W.</p><p><em>Video from Boeing</em></p>
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Boeing said today that it’s in the final phases of testing new technology for building 777 fuselages, replacing people with robots to fasten fuselage panels together. Currently, fuselage panels are fastened together by hand with power tools, a repetitive and strenuous task that the company said accounts for more than half of all employee injuries on the 777 program. Within the next few years, Boeing plans to install the Fuselage Automated Upright Build technology in a new portion of Everett’s main factory. The company noted that it is preparing to build the new line of 777X airplanes there. — E.W.

Video from Boeing

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By Jessica Buxbaum

Crosscut editorial intern Jessica Buxbaum recently moved to Seattle from California where she studied political science at Humboldt State University and worked on the university's newspaper and magazi