Defense News
Lockheed Putting F-35 On Continuously Moving Construction Line
Bloomberg News (3/13, Lococo) reports that Dave Abbett, director of final assembly for the F-35, is working to upgrade output from one plane a month to 12 by 2016. "For Lockheed, success means a chance to increase sales at about twice the estimated growth rate of the Pentagon budget. Failure may put the F-35 in the crosshairs of government planners." Lockheed will change production to the "first continuously moving production line" that could save money and allow for a "more rapid response to any production problems that arise." At full speed, the "F-35 moving line will creep forward at about 53 inches an hour, or 60 feet a day. ... Lights will flash and the equipment will send e-mails to managers when there's a holdup."
