According to Zhitong Finance, Boeing (BA.US) stated on Friday that it will conduct more surprise inspections of its factories as part of a broader plan to address the manufacturing quality crisis that has forced the company to slow down production and increased scrutiny from federal regulators in the USA. The new procedures developed by Boeing include an additional layer of random quality checks, where aircraft parts are often removed and then put back in place; during the incident last January when a plane panel exploded on an Alaska Air (ALK.US) aircraft, workers failed to replace the bolts necessary to secure the door plug in place after repairing faulty rivets.

Other measures include conducting inspections before the fuselage produced by supplier Spirit Aerosystems (SPR.US) leaves its factory, providing additional training for workers, offering confidentiality protections for employees reporting issues, and simplifying the manufacturing instructions for the 737 aircraft.

Mike Whitaker, the head of the FAA, stated on Friday in a Post that the agency has more work to do and will continue to closely monitor Boeing.

Whitaker noted that Boeing is making progress, but this is not a year-long project. He stated, 'What Boeing needs is a fundamental cultural shift focused on safety and quality, rather than profit. This will require ongoing effort and commitment from Boeing, along with our unwavering scrutiny.'