The 47th 737 built at the 737 program’s rate of 47 airplanes per month — a 737-800 for Xiamen Airlines — rolls out of the Renton, Wash., factory. The milestone keeps the program on track to achieve a further rate increase to 52 airplanes per month sometime next year.

Craig Larsen

A Xiamen 737-800 rolled out of Boeing’s site in Renton, Wash. recently as the 47th airplane built at a production rate of 47 airplanes a month.

The milestone marks the latest in successful rate breaks achieved by the 737 program over the past five years.

In June, Boeing increased its 737 production rate from 42 airplanes a month to 47 airplanes a month. The increase is a result of the program experiencing strong market demand and keeps it on track to achieve its previously announced production rate of 52 airplanes per month in 2018, according to Commercial Airplanes.

The accomplishment is the result of a carefully coordinated effort by employees and supplier partners and reflects the strength of the entire 737 program, said Marty Chamberlin, vice president of 737 Manufacturing Operations.

“Thank you to our incredible 737 team,” Chamberlin said. “A tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes hard work went into achieving our 737 vision of safely creating capacity in our factory, which will enable us to compete in the marketplace and build more airplanes in Renton for years to come.”

To achieve and sustain the 47-a-month production rate, the program will maintain its focus on safety, quality and productivity improvements, Chamberlin said. Teams are solving problems together, eliminating costly squawks, improving work flow time, using new technology and achieving a 17 percent reduction in employee injuries from the same time last year.

By Jennifer Sturm

A 737-800 for Xiamen Airlines, the 47th airplane built at the 737 program’s rate of 47 airplanes per month, prepares to roll out of the Renton, Wash., factory. In June, Boeing increased its 737 production rate from 42 airplanes per month to 47 airplanes per month.

Craig Larsen