Core Viewpoint - Boeing's 2024 was marked by numerous failures and emergencies, culminating in a tragic crash of a Korean 737-800 aircraft, leading to a stock price decline of over 30% for the year, making it the biggest loser in the otherwise rising Dow Jones index [1] - In contrast, Airbus saw its stock price increase by over 11% during the same period, while credit rating agencies like S&P and Moody's have continuously downgraded Boeing's credit rating, placing it on the brink of "junk" status [1] Group 1: Company Culture and Strategy - Boeing's corporate culture, characterized by a profit-first mentality, has been identified as a primary cause of its safety and quality issues, affecting various aspects of its operations, including competitive strategy and stakeholder management [1][3] - The acquisition of McDonnell Douglas was driven by the need to compete with Airbus, but Boeing's strategy focused on cost reduction, leading to significant outsourcing and cuts in R&D budgets, which introduced safety risks [2][3][4] - The decision to outsource critical components, including software development for the 737 MAX, has resulted in quality control challenges and increased complexity in problem resolution due to reliance on external suppliers [4][5][6] Group 2: Leadership and Governance Issues - Boeing has experienced a series of CEOs since acquiring McDonnell Douglas, all of whom perpetuated a profit-centric culture without implementing substantial changes to address ongoing technical and safety issues [13][18] - The board of directors has been criticized for lacking industry-specific expertise and failing to prioritize safety, with many members having backgrounds in government rather than aerospace [20][21] - The absence of a dedicated safety committee within the board has been highlighted as a significant oversight, especially following major accidents involving the 737 MAX [22][23] Group 3: External Factors and Market Environment - The U.S. economic structure, heavily weighted towards the financial services sector, has contributed to a decline in manufacturing capabilities, complicating Boeing's supply chain management and quality assurance processes [25][26] - Boeing's reliance on government contracts has created a dependency that has not fostered genuine improvements in design and manufacturing capabilities, leading to questions about its long-term viability [26] - The cultural shift towards short-term profit maximization has been exacerbated by a lack of focus on innovation and employee engagement, resulting in a decline in the company's engineering culture [31]