E-Systems' team approach works

By Mark Ziegler
Materiel
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group

The delivery date for the three 767s to Japan's All Nippon Airlines stood only two weeks away when Engineering requested an immediate design change.

The change was needed in the 767's elevator feel computer to meet new performance requirements. The computer helps operate the horizontal stabilizer by letting the pilot "feel" the controls better.

E-Systems of Salt Lake City, supplier of the elevator feel computer, incorporated the design change, produced and tested the parts, and delivered them in time for All Nippon to receive the planes as scheduled.

That's not an unusual tale of reliability and service from E-Systems, according to Dick Armstrong, Materiel buyer in Systems and Equipment.

"They're the type that jump into action and ask questions later," said Armstrong. "They don't quibble about who's at fault, they just do whatever it takes to get the situation resolved."

E-Systems makes a habit of meeting schedules all the time, not just during crunches, Armstrong said. The firm began making parts for Boeing in the early '60s, supplying elevator feel computers and force feel actuators for the 727. Now, E-Systems also produces stabilizer trim hydraulic brakes, stabilizer trim control modules and autopilot actuators for various Boeing models. It also has a perfect on-time parts delivery record the past three years. For this excellence in schedule support, E-Systems received a supplier Pride in Excellence Award in July 1988.

In addition, E-Systems has a current quality rating of 98 percent, meaning that almost all of E-Systems' parts pass Boeing inspection.

Armstrong credits the supplier's performance to "an excellent team approach" and the "use of a computer system that allows them to track manufacturing, shop loading, ordering, even the financial side of their business.

"If we need something done fast, they can tell us exactly what they can do and when they can get it done, down to within a 24-hour period," he said.

Even more importantly, Armstrong said, is E-Systems' commitment to keeping tabs on the quality of the goods they've already sold.

"They have very strong product support," he said. "At least once yearly, they go out to every customer, including the airlines, talk about the performance of their parts, the provisioning, and find out any problems."

Dave Williams, vice president and general manager of E-Systems, said a long-term business agreement between his firm and Boeing, its largest customer, has paid off for both parties.

"We committed to long-term pricing, and they committed to us as long as we perform," said Williams. "That allowed us to implement changes and improve our products. We are committed to doing what is necessary to maintain good performance from a quality and schedule standpoint."