At the factory that builds the 737 Max, Boeing rethinks how it trains new hires

Farmer worked as an aviation mechanic in the Army, helping to keep Boeing helicopters in the air, for nine years. Now that he’s learning how to build the planes, Farmer says the level of detail is a lot to take in — even for him.

“Every bolt, every washer, every rivet,” he said. “It all matters.”

Boeing has been on a hiring spree, adding thousands of new workers to make up for the experienced employees who left in droves during the COVID pandemic.