Jason Sandefur

The machinists’ strike at Boeing could provide fastener manufacturers with more time to meet increased demand for aerospace fasteners.

Boeing’s 27,000 machinists voted to strike over job security, medical coverage, wages and pension benefits. Experts estimate the strike could cost Boeing – which has confirmed it will not build airplanes until the machinists return – as much as $120 million per day.

A tight aerospace fastener market has already forced two costly delays on the 787 Dreamliner. Boeing announced an initial six-month delay and promptly replaced the head of its 787 program. A second schedule modification came weeks later.

Boeing CEO Jim McNerney has blamed fastener suppliers for ongoing shortages that have delayed the test flight of the 787. However, earlier reports suggest that fastener specs for the Dreamliner were as much as 8 months late, forcing Alcoa Fastening Systems – a primary supplier – and other fastener manufacturers to work non-stop to complete design work and manufacture the 9 different fastener types for the 787. Web: boeing.com �2008 FastenerNews.com