Aerospace Assembly

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SEATTLE—At a secret facility in Anacortes, WA, a small group of Boeing engineers will begin testing advanced automation methods for building the soon-to-be-launched 777X jet. The project promises to dramatically change how the plane’s metal hull is built.

JACKSONVILLE, FL—Aveo Engineering, which makes LED lighting for aircraft, is investing $7.5 million to build a new assembly plant in Flagler County, FL. The plant is expected to employ 300 people.

SEATTLE—FAA is proposing a $2.75 million civil penalty against Boeing Co.’s commercial airplanes unit for allegedly “failing to maintain its quality control system in accordance with approved FAA procedures.” In a statement, FAA said that in September 2008, “Boeing discovered that it had been installing nonconforming fasteners on its model 777 airplanes.”

YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI—The factory where Rosie the Riveter showed that a woman could do a “man’s work” by building World War II-era bombers, will be demolished if money can’t be found to save it.

WASHINGTON—New orders for big-ticket U.S.-manufactured goods rose 4.2 percent in June, led by demand for aircraft. Orders for durable goods rose to $244.5 billion, an increase of $9.9 billion from May, the Commerce Department said. Analysts had predicted a much smaller 1.8 percent increase on average.

NEW YORK—The domestic economic outlook among U.S. manufacturers is at its highest level in five quarters, according to the PWC Manufacturing Barometer survey. The majority of manufacturing executives surveyed expect revenue growth in 2013.

WICHITA, KS—Triumph Aerospace Systemswill invest more than $2 million to expand its assembly plant here, creating 100 new jobs.

CHICAGO—Boeing is urging its suppliers to provide more visibility into their inner workings and to lower costs by 15 percent.

Designing, assembling and testing aerospace wire harnesses present unique challenges to harness manufacturers.

WASHINGTON—The purchasing managers index for manufacturing rose to 50.9 in June, up 1.9 points from May. According to the Institute for Supply Management, a PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion, while one below reflects contraction.