564 Principles of Supply Chain Management
subassemblies to supply partners who share the risk and rewards of being part of
a larger project, such as building an aircraft. However, there are voices on the hori-
zon expressing caution as to the long-term effects of a supply chain that outsources
excessively, including the design and manufacturing of major subassemblies, such as
wings and fuselages. It should be acknowledged that Airbus has some similarities
with Boeing in that it outsources over a wide geographic area, primarily four major
countries in the European Union (EU). But it does not excessively outsource design like
Boeing has on its Dreamliner (MacPherson and Pritchard 2007).
It should also be recognized that in the building of a large ...