Boeing 737 MAX: A case study of failure in a supply chain using system of systems framework

Abstract

This paper uses the framework and pain points of the System of Systems (SoS) originated and prevalent in Systems Engineering, to investigate the failure of the Boeing 737 MAX. We posit that a supply chain can be investigated as an SoS and that the SoS framework is useful to describe its health status and pain points. We attempt to analyze the Boeing 737 MAX’s epic failure and identify potential issues in its supply chain which may have contributed to the tragic accidents and the eventual grounding of the plane. The analysis provides practical insights to help restore the health of the Boeing 737 MAX supply chain and help prevent it from experiencing the same failure again.