Man, what a great deal for South Carolina and Charleston, the biggest thing to hit the state since BMW. The Boeing Corporation has announced that it has chosen its North Charleston facility as the location for a second final assembly site for the 787 Dreamliner program.

Boeing evaluated criteria that were designed to find the final assembly location within the company that would best support the 787 business plan as the program increases production rates. In addition to serving as a location for final assembly of 787 Dreamliners, the facility also will have the capability to support the testing and delivery of the airplanes.

“Establishing a second 787 assembly line in Charleston will expand our production capability to meet the market demand for the airplane,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

But the disturbing part can out of Everett, Washington, T.M. Sell, a college professor and author of a book about Boeing, told a reporter “They say we we gotta have parts made all over the world, because our markets are all over the world. And there’s some truth to that. But that doesn’t explain sending fuselage work to South Carolina to be done by the functional equivalent of Wal-Mart greeters.” A Boeing factory worker said “We see the South Carolina products that come into our factory, and it’s poor quality.” Another worker said he would be worried about safety if he knew he had to fly on a 787 made at the South Carolina location.

That’s one hell of a slap in the face, but future South Carolina employees of Boeing will build the safest 787 in the air! Proud owners of the BMW X5 and X6 drive one of the safest cars in the world built right here in Greer, South Carolina. Let’s not forget Michelin, ICAR, Bowater, GE, Honeywell, Northup Grumman and the list goes on and on. The same pride and professionalism will happen in North Charleston. Congrats South Carolina!