Speaking of the issues

Sustaining our success

Boeing’s third-quarter financial results reflect fewer deliveries due to the IAM strike and an ongoing supplier issue with galleys in some of our twin-aisle airplanes, but given these issues and the global financial crisis, our production backlog and overall outlook keep us well positioned for success.

The orders backlog for Boeing airplanes — nearing 300 billion dollars — continues to give the company and employees a unique opportunity during 2008 negotiations.

The backlog is impressive in its spread over the Boeing product line and unprecedented in the geographic diversity of customers.

This diverse backlog provides an opportunity to increase Boeing's stability in the cyclical aerospace industry, and for everyone at Boeing to share in this success and enjoy job stability.

It also presents a great challenge. The airplanes were sold on the assumption that we would continue to make significant productivity gains. All Boeing employees have a stake in making sure we are successful in meeting our targets and our customer commitments.

Improving productivity keeps us competitive, successful and able to provide good jobs for generations to come.