Quality and quantity

摘要

CFM International is hoping to bring off on the LEAP programme (A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX, Comae C919) in just four years something that was not accomplished on the CFM56 (Airbus A320, Boeing 737) even after more than three decades: an annual production rate of 2,000 engines. Given an order book brimming with 12,046 orders (as of the end of March), this is not just an ambition but also a necessity. Since 2012 the Franco-American joint venture company owned by Safran and GE Aviation has been working intensely on how to get the production figures up to these high levels. 108 LEAP engines were produced in 2016, and this year the plan is to already build around 500.