In September, the National Transportation Safety Board issued an “urgent” recommendation to the FAA about a problem with rudders that pilots use to steer certain Boeing 737s after landing.

Boeing has already initiated a range of cost-cutting plans as it grapples with dwindling reserves and low output.

Carriers from China to the U.S. and Europe were forced to extract the dubious components, leaving jets grounded and racking up millions of dollars in costs.

Talks collapsed with both parties locked in an acrimonious stalemate showing no signs of a rapid solution.

If the strike continues toward the end of the year, a credit rating downgrade is more likely, according to S&P. 

DPW predicts that 2025 will see a concerted drive towards a digital revolution in procurement, signaling a shift from operational technologies to more strategic, relationship-driven solutions.

Faulty parts that could cause the 737’s rudder control system to jam may be in use by at least 40 non-U.S. carriers.

The FAA identified several instances where Boeing workers cut corners, including one mechanic who used an improvised device to measure gaps between components.

Roughly 33,000 Boeing workers have been on strike since September 13, idling the planemaker’s main jetliner factories near Seattle.

As AI continues to spread throughout the manufacturing sector, its impact will only intensify.