Build-To-Performance: the Boeing 787 Dreamliner A Case on Development Outsourcing and Supply Chain Management

Boeing 787, the Dreamliner, is the fastest-selling plane ever in the commercial aviation industry. However, its development was a nightmare - the first flight was delayed by 28 months and the first delivery was delayed by 40 months with a cost overrun of at least $10 Billion. Naturally, people asked: What happened? Could it have been avoided?This case provides a thorough coverage of the events, facts and issues for the development of the Dreamliner. It presents indepth information on how the airplane was developed and how the program was managed. It tells the story from the perspective of both Boeing and one of its major suppliers, Vought. The objective is to showcase the challenges in managing today's global supply chains and provide a rich ground for discussions on development outsourcing, program management and supply chain coordination.