Stickers From South Africa, joined Sep 2007, 105 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 8220 times:
Hi
As the orders for various aircraft come in for both Boeing and Airbus, does anyone know what is their maximum output of completed aircraft per month (or per year if its more applicable) on each family line they produce? This is not intended to be a Boeing vs Airbus issue, but i am genuinly curious as to how fast these highly specialised companies are able to produce these highly specialised aircraft. Since we know the number of orders and expected delivery dates, i assume that this issue isn't a clasified one. (I may be wrong.)
Here is a list of the families, which you are most welcome to fill in with the correct numbers of aircraft produced. Please note that i'm talking about completely finished aircraft.
Airbus:
A310 -
A320 (presumeably A318, A319, A320, A321 are produced on the same line. If nt, feel free to correct.) -
A330 & A340 (Presumably produced on the same line. If not, feel free to correct) -
A350 - (Expected to be)
A380 - (Expected to be)
Scouseflyer From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2006, 3052 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 8218 times:
What I know:
A330 + A343 - 7 moving to 9
A346 - 3?
A310 - none
A318/319/320/321 - produced on two lines TLS and XFW - total 32 moving to 40 a month over the next 4 years.
TeamAmerica From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 1760 posts, RR: 24 Reply 3, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 8160 times:
Tdscanuck From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 10544 posts, RR: 71 Reply 4, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 8141 times:
Quoting Stickers (Thread starter): As the orders for various aircraft come in for both Boeing and Airbus, does anyone know what is their maximum output of completed aircraft per month (or per year if its more applicable) on each family line they produce?
Boeing currently produces 7 777's per month (I think) and it heading for 31 737's per month (I'm sure).
However, that's not the limit of either production line. The theoretical limit is set by the suppliers, not by the OEM's. They can only build as fast as they can get parts and some of the parts suppliers have hard limits based on specialized tooling, material availability, etc.
Stickers From South Africa, joined Sep 2007, 105 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 8060 times:
Wow, these numbers are much higher than i expected.
Quoting WINGS (Reply 2): A300/A310 - Closed since June 2007.
Does anyone know what the output per month was at its peak?
Is the expected output for the 787 going to be the same as the 777? Assuming that the problem of the parts from supppliers gets sorted out. (As Tom mentioned, this is what limits production)
Confused I have never seen any plan for 8 per month...that would be 96 per year! 4 per month is about right, at the peak.
The A380 line has the capacity to reach 8 frames per month. If Airbus sees the demand for the A380 line, I'm sure that they will not hesitate to build 8 per month.
Quoting Stickers (Reply 5):
Quoting WINGS (Reply 2):
A300/A310 - Closed since June 2007.
Does anyone know what the output per month was at its peak?
While I don't have the figures for peak output per month, I do have yearly figures.
TeamAmerica From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 1760 posts, RR: 24 Reply 8, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 7803 times:
Quoting WINGS (Reply 6): The A380 line has the capacity to reach 8 frames per month.
The line may well have that capacity, but can the logistics chain support that? My recollection is that there are several bottlenecks, tide-dependent barge movements and the road convoy being prime examples. I claim no expertise on this topic, but I had thought that "one a week" was the ultimate goal.
RedFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 4013 posts, RR: 32 Reply 9, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 7788 times:
Quoting TeamAmerica (Reply 8): Quoting WINGS (Reply 6):
The A380 line has the capacity to reach 8 frames per month.
The line may well have that capacity, but can the logistics chain support that? My recollection is that there are several bottlenecks, tide-dependent barge movements and the road convoy being prime examples. I claim no expertise on this topic, but I had thought that "one a week" was the ultimate goal.
You bring up a good point. But what people don't take into consideration is if the demand is there, a manufacturer will find a way to supply it. In theory, if the demand for the A380 is such that 96 can be produced annually, and if barge and convoy movements are bottlenecks, then Airbus will figure out a way around them.
Zeke From Hong Kong, joined Dec 2006, 6561 posts, RR: 72 Reply 10, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 7744 times:
Quoting RedFlyer (Reply 9): In theory, if the demand for the A380 is such that 96 can be produced annually, and if barge and convoy movements are bottlenecks, then Airbus will figure out a way around them.
They already have....
Special Airbus Transport International Company (SATIC) looked at the Mega-Beluga for A380..., fuselage diameter of 11.2 m (36.74'), 53.5 t payload for the 343 airframe, 118t for the 346 airframe.
RedFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 4013 posts, RR: 32 Reply 11, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 7695 times:
Quoting Zeke (Reply 10): Quoting RedFlyer (Reply 9):
In theory, if the demand for the A380 is such that 96 can be produced annually, and if barge and convoy movements are bottlenecks, then Airbus will figure out a way around them.
They already have....
Gee, Zeke, this is a red-letter day: we actually agree on something!
I wasn't aware of the ST. Question: is it conceptual only or is it actually being considered/developed for streamlining the parts delivery system of the A380 (or even increased production capacity if the need ever materializes)?
SEPilot From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 5853 posts, RR: 39 Reply 12, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 7679 times:
Quoting WINGS (Reply 6): The A380 line has the capacity to reach 8 frames per month. If Airbus sees the demand for the A380 line, I'm sure that they will not hesitate to build 8 per month.
I cannot see demand for the A380 reaching anything like this in the foreseeable future; things could change, but I think 4 a month will be too many once the backlog is worked off.
The problem with making things foolproof is that fools are so doggone ingenious...Dan Keebler
Zeke From Hong Kong, joined Dec 2006, 6561 posts, RR: 72 Reply 13, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 7647 times:
Quoting RedFlyer (Reply 11): Question: is it conceptual only or is it actually being considered/developed for streamlining the parts delivery system of the A380 (or even increased production capacity if the need ever materializes)?
That is my understanding, by sea worked out better for them at the start, if and when they need to the can go to the A340, they maybe needed for the KC-30 or A350XWB programs as well.
Quoting SEPilot (Reply 12):
I cannot see demand for the A380 reaching anything like this in the foreseeable future; things could change, but I think 4 a month will be too many once the backlog is worked off.
If I recall correctly, they plan to deliver 45 of them in 2010.
SEPilot From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 5853 posts, RR: 39 Reply 14, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 7628 times:
Quoting Zeke (Reply 13): If I recall correctly, they plan to deliver 45 of them in 2010.
True; but if they don't start selling faster than they have been they will have no more to build by about 2013. I don't think they have enough ramp space to park 40 or 50 white tails, to say nothing of the cost of building them.
The problem with making things foolproof is that fools are so doggone ingenious...Dan Keebler
TeamAmerica From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 1760 posts, RR: 24 Reply 15, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 7570 times:
Quoting RedFlyer (Reply 9): the demand is there, a manufacturer will find a way to supply it.
Of course, but it seems that the OP's question is simply "how many can they build" rather than "how many could they build if the demand was there to justify additional investment..."
As it stands, I believe the A380 supply chain is sized to about 4/month.
RedFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 4013 posts, RR: 32 Reply 16, posted (4 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 7557 times:
Quoting TeamAmerica (Reply 15): Quoting RedFlyer (Reply 9):
the demand is there, a manufacturer will find a way to supply it.
Of course, but it seems that the OP's question is simply "how many can they build" rather than "how many could they build if the demand was there to justify additional investment..."
As it stands, I believe the A380 supply chain is sized to about 4/month.
Okay, I see your point. I guess then WINGS' response in Reply #6 about 8 per month for the A380 needs to be addressed. Is the CURRENT capacity, which would include the barge/road shut-down bottlenecks, at 8 for the A380 or is it at 4 (or somewhere in between)?
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From South Africa, joined Sep 2007, 105 posts, 
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I have never seen any plan for 8 per month...that would be 96 per year! 4 per month is about right, at the peak.
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