[MtnGoat]

great article on how SpaceX's push to become dominant in the launch game, became reality How Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX beat Boeing

[Ski]

Why would we want to go to Mars? There are no oceans for us to fill full of discarded plastics.

[Randito]

I worked at the "Lazy B" for most of the '80s -- managers then weren't rewarded for forming agile teams that could solve tough problems quickly -- the model for success then was the ability to convince the clients ( air force, NASA, etc ) that this was a big project requiring a big team and a long time. This kind thinking permeated the commerical side as well. My observation was that there was about a 50% "deadwood" factor -- people the either did nothing or it was better if they did nothing. The only people I saw get fired were the ones actively stealing from the company. The guy who running a mailing list service using Boeing computers for example. Rewards for high contributors were shockingly small someone could come up with an innovation that saved the company over $12 million and be rewarded with a 6% pay increase. By contrast when I worked at Microsoft during the '90s we fired people for being incompetent or lazy ( as well as the ones stealing) and I saw people that were high contributors get 40% pay boosts.

[boot up]

[Malachai Constant]

The only problem is if we shot all the garbage into space the earths mass would be reduced to a point that the oceans might all float away

[Damian]

Randy I worked at Boeing for 37 years in many commercial and military jobs. My consistent experience was quite the opposite of your experience, or how Boeing was portrayed on Almost Live (which I loved, BTW). Lots of smart folks working hard. Failure to reward innovation and a 50% workforce would never have yielded the current bottom line nor unprecedented delivery rates in an extremely competitive global environment. This required years of innovation and hard work to upgrade technologies in the products and manufacturing systems particularly during and after the 80's. As regards convincing customers that contracts were harder than reality, the facts are exactly the opposite. Boeing consistently underestimated the cost and schedule of both commercial and military development programs starting in the 80's. Not a good thing either. We lost a few contracts for sure. But the only thing I can think of that's on par with the complexity and longevity of a Boeing airplane is a hydroelectric dam.

[Randito]

[Damian]

[Randito]

[MtnGoat]

I'd say that his position a fair distance up the food chain at the Lazy B, plus the time put in and D's danged good judgement gives him a fair read on everything he's been in contact with. On the other hand, something has resulted in SpaceX eating Boeing space's lunch.

[Damian]

Randy I've worked as a mechanical engineer at 4 aerospace companies and for a power utility. I am still working as an aerospace engineer. I'm curious what I said that indicated a sample size of one. I have a hard time with your 50% number as it strikes 10s of thousands of damn good people. I commend anyone that knocks off Boeing, including SpaceX. Others have done it too. Part of what I love about the industry is the competition.

[Randito]

[Damian]

I said 4 total. No the others were not subcontractors of Boeing, though I'm not sure how that is relevant. In any event my case was based on observance of facts related to Boeing's current bottom line and significant improvements. I claimed no higher ground due to outside experiences, though I have plenty to compare to Boeing. And everywhere I've worked I've met disgruntled employees. No I no longer work at Boeing. Lighten up my friend. I respect your experience and views. After all, your experience is your experience.

[coldrain108]

[Randito]