The Boeing Factory Tour

This museum and tour is a wonderful experience. It is a must see when visiting the Seattle area. It cost $25 for both parts but well worth it. You will see how the Boeing planes are manufactured in a LEAN process. It is American ingenuity on show case.

A company that was started in 1916 by Bill Boeing and is now the largest commercial airplane manufacturer in the world.

- June 2018

Boeing employs 35,000 employees. This production factory runs 24 hours and 7 days a week. The manufacturing building is the largest commercial building in the world. It can fit all NFL football fields inside and still has room to spare. At any given moment, they manufacture 6 planes simultaneously. The 747 is still made for cargo jets though not passengers. The new 787 Dreamliners is the most fuel efficient plane with a saving of 20% of fuel. A modified 747 is used to transport parts of the 787 from all parts of the world where they are manufactured for final assembly in this plant. A typical Boeing jet cost $200-400 million depending on configuration.

The Boeing company is a unique American success story. Just like the Henry Ford assembly line that build the model T, the Boeing company has created the modern consumer air travel industry. It is a valuable history and one that should be taught in every grade school. This feat could not be accomplished in any other country in the world.

A word of caution. Security is very tight. No cell phone, cameras, electronics or even a notebook is allowed inside the plant. There are free lockers outside the tour area to store your belongings.