Boeing parts maker opens Subic plant

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – D-J Aerospace, Inc., a US firm engaged in manufacturing essential parts of Boeing aircraft inaugurated its modern assembly plant here with an initial capitalization of P55 million and employing 221 highly skilled workers.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Felicito C. Payumo said that the entry of D-J Aerospace is a diversification from the industries that Subic Freeport has been known for.

"This is something different from the usual electronic manufacturing and assembly businesses we have here," Payumo said.

D-J Aerospace vice president for operation Rashedul Chowdhury, expressed confidence with Payumo’s expression of SBMA’s full support on their endeavor.

"In this kind of business, we could hardly tell if we’re going to succeed or not, especially now that the aircraft business is down. But we are confident that, with the support of the SBMA and SBDMC, we would surpass problems and be even able to expand operations in the near future," Chowdhury said.

D-J Aerospace is engaged in the assembly of aircraft parts to complement the production of its mother company, D-J Engineering, Inc. in Kansas, USA which also assembles other aircraft parts and is a subcontractor to many aircraft manufacturers.

D-J Aerospace will assemble aircraft parts like crank spacers, fittings, angles, chord and inter-coastal assembly and the like, including seat racks and engine mount for Boeing 747, door hinges and window sills for Boeing 737.

Aside from Boeing 737 and 747, D-J Aerospace will also produce aircraft parts for Boeing 777, Gulfstream private jet, and Eclipse Aviation.

"The advantage of Subic over other countries where labor is cheap is the low-end but high tech manufacturing. We are for high knowledge content, high tech and high manufacturing business. And of course, there is smooth flow of communication between the management and the workers because workers here are English-literate," Payumo added.

He also assured them, as he encouraged more investors to come in, that their will be low cost of power supply in the Freeport in a month or two with Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) providing lower and more efficient power supply service.