Boeing’s head of quality for commercial airplanes, Elizabeth Lund, is set to retire in December, as announced by Boeing on Monday.
Lund, a 33-year veteran of the aerospace giant, was appointed as senior vice president of quality for commercial planes earlier this year. She was tasked with leading the company’s improvement plans following a crisis triggered by a mid-air panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 in January.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accused Boeing of violating investigation rules when Lund provided non-public information to media outlets and speculated on possible reasons for the blowout. As a result, the agency restricted Boeing from receiving additional information during its probe.
In response to the crisis, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Mike Whitaker halted the production of additional 737 MAX airplanes until Boeing demonstrated quality control improvements. Boeing submitted a plan in May and has begun implementing it as they seek approval to increase production.
Doug Ackerman, currently serving as vice president of Supply Chain and Fabrication Quality and involved in the quality plan, will succeed Lund, according to Boeing.
The FAA recently announced a new safety review of Boeing, focusing on risk-assessment quality, resource allocation, and regulatory compliance, expected to span three months.
In October, the Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General criticized the FAA’s oversight of Boeing, stating it was insufficient to monitor the planemaker’s manufacturing facilities effectively.
An FAA audit in February uncovered 97 instances of noncompliance at Boeing, highlighting issues in manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control.
Despite Boeing’s efforts, Whitaker expressed skepticism about the company’s safety culture improvements, estimating it could take three to five years to see tangible results. He acknowledged the FAA’s past lack of oversight of Boeing.
Lund’s retirement announcement coincides with ongoing challenges for Boeing, including the resolution of a seven-week strike by West Coast factory workers and the need to address quality and safety concerns.
The recent contract offer acceptance by union members provides relief for Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, who now faces the task of rebuilding relations with workers and addressing ongoing quality and safety issues.
Reuters contributed to this report.
