Ed Pierson, a senior manager at Boeing's Max factory near Seattle, has been at the forefront of raising concerns about the company's safety practices. A hopeful man with a bullish energy, Pierson is driven by his motto, "Red, white, and blue, this is the right thing to do." Since stepping into his role in 2015, he has been actively involved in troubleshooting manufacturing issues similar to the chaotic speedup in the iconic "I Love Lucy" chocolate factory episode. His tasks have included working on assembly-line efficiencies and coordinating necessary fixes on the factory floor. However, he claims to witness a steady decline in factory statistics over the years.
Pierson has become a whistleblower, voicing apprehensions about parts delays and a shortage of quality inspectors. He has walked into the office of Campbell, a key figure at Boeing, several times to express his concerns. Despite his best efforts, Pierson feels that his warnings have not been sufficiently addressed.
His investigations have led him to communicate with the families of crash victims. He has established contact with at least one victim's mother, illustrating his commitment to seeking justice. Pierson has meticulously examined information alongside Joe Jacobsen, including a comprehensive 343-page Boeing bulletin.
“I think we’re about to get busy.” – Joe Jacobsen
Pierson believes the documents he carries in his backpack demonstrate that Boeing has not been entirely transparent about the Max crashes. His research includes poring over malfunction reports from various airlines, further fueling his concerns.
“Frankly right now all my internal warning bells are going off. And for the first time in my life, I’m sorry to say that I’m hesitant about putting my family on a Boeing airplane.” – Ed Pierson
Pierson's dedication to uncovering the truth is deeply personal; he has been married to Michelle since 1987, and her support has been unwavering.
“Do you want to be right about that? He was just grateful that the whole plane didn’t go down.” – Michelle Pierson
His efforts have not gone unnoticed. A former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator acknowledged Pierson's insights:
“Yep, that’s a manufacturing quality-control, safety-culture problem, and Ed Pierson got that right.” – Former NTSB investigator
Despite the challenges faced, Pierson continues to strive for changes at Boeing, motivated by his commitment to safety and transparency. His journey highlights the importance of whistleblowers in holding corporations accountable and ensuring public safety.
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