Sums it up nicely:
https://qz.com/1776080/how-the-mcdonnell-douglas-boeing-merger-led-to-the-737-max-crisis/
4 replies (most recent on top)
Right, a merger that happened over 20 years ago is the real reason Seattle can't get its act together today. Just as it has been every time something went wrong since the 1990s. Plenty of victimhood out there, but scapegoating always was easier than taking some responsibility and resolving to do better. If it hadn't been for MDC, Heritage Boeing wouldn't have had the advanced composite materials to do 787 in the first place. I sat in on the weekly technology transfer meetings, and it was one giant suction toward the Northwest. So give some credit along with the blame, and remember who it was who supported you with Defense revenues while Commercial revenues were flat on their back for years after 9/11.
Where things went wrong?
Some think it's the unions
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/with-heavy-need-for-737-max-training-pilots-ahead-boeing-pilots-ask-to-decertify-union/
full text
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/podcasts/the-daily/boeing-dreamliner-charleston.html