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Boeing Automated Fuselage Assembly (Building 40-27) hero image

Innovation to Streamline Delivery of an Automated Manufacturing Facility

Boeing Automated Fuselage Assembly (Building 40‑27)

Hoffman brings advanced technology experience to build a robotics-intensive manufacturing facility for an aviation market leader.

Six production cells use advanced robotics assembly to manufacture the Boeing 777’s forward and aft fuselage sections in this fully automated facility. A system of tunnel utilidors located beneath the manufacturing floor, which has a footprint of 200,000 SF, feed utilities to each manufacturing cell. During preconstruction, Hoffman worked with the owner and design team to build flexibility into the tooling/mechanization design. A key innovation was to build the shell first with flexible infrastructure. For example, we installed central utility tunnels to distribute utilities throughout the factory and provided accessible covered utility trenches to branch out to the equipment. Because the building shell was weathered-in and complete, the robotics vendor was able to test equipment and the owner had time to make decisions on alternate tools or tool expansion. Once the building went into full production, Hoffman continued to support Boeing with additional utility installations on approximately 40 large tooling structures supporting manufacturing processes.

Challenge

Support the owner’s decision-making process regarding robotics and tooling/mechanization design.

Solution

Hoffman worked with the owner and design team to build flexibility into the tooling/mechanization design. A key innovation was to build the shell first with flexible infrastructure. Because the building shell was weathered-in and complete, the robotics vendor was able to test equipment and the owner had time to make decisions on alternate tools or tool expansion.

Contract Type

CM-at-Risk

Client

Boeing

Architect

BRPH

Location

Everett, WA

Year

2017

Project Story

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