Boeing is asking suppliers to disclose records on Chinese titanium since 2014, according to a letter seen by Reuters, as the U.S. planemaker widens checks for false paperwork used to authenticate the metal used in commercial jets.
Regulators said in June they were investigating whether false or incorrect documents were used to identify the authenticity of titanium used for parts in some Boeing and Airbus jets.
Airbus said it is collaborating with authorities and investigating the lack of proper traceability affecting a small number of titanium parts from suppliers to programs like the A220, A320 and A350.
Reports of forged documentation initially raised concerns about the structural integrity of some aircraft, but planemakers and suppliers say the correct titanium alloy was used and their products are safe. Paper trails are critical in aviation, where regulators insist on clear documentation for even minor production changes to assure planes are safe.
As someone who works in supply chain, I get what you’re saying, but Chinese material is always suspect, and the certs aren’t worth the paper it’s printed on. Having said that, Boeing willingly moved to Chinese suppliers to “save money.” I see it all the time. We move something to China and it works for 5 minutes then they start making it cheaper/shittier and we have to go back to our original supplier who then marks up their price as a fuck you to us for moving it in the first place. These MBAs are all about cost saving, and don’t give 2 shits about the big picture.
Oh, I think it’s 100% plausible that they sourced some shitty Chinese titanium and are now trying to make that someone else’s fault. I’m just poking fun at the idea of them demanding paperwork from their suppliers (even if that’s a sensible thing to do now at this point) as if they just now learned about the issue and all their OWN paperwork and processes are in perfect order.