<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580497975886.jpeg" alt="Spirit AeroSystems plans to resume production of Boeing's 737 Max. Elaine Thompson/AP/NPR" />
 <figcaption>Spirit AeroSystems plans to resume production of Boeing's 737 Max. Elaine Thompson/AP/NPR</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM SHINE, <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/spirit-resume-737-max-production-reduced-pace">Kansas News Service</a>Spirit
 AeroSystems said Thursday it has reached an agreement with Boeing to 
resume production of the 737 Max, but at reduced levels.Both 
Boeing and Spirit halted production of the plane last month; the jet was
 grounded globally last March following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 
2019. Spirit makes about 70 percent of the 737 Max, and the program 
accounts for about half of the company’s annual revenue.At its 
peak, Spirit was making about 600 shipsets per year for Boeing 
consisting of the 737’s fuselage, pylon, wing leading edges, thrust 
reverser and engine nacelles.Spirit is expected to make only 216 shipsets in 2020. And it does not expect to return to peak production until late 2022.Before
 the 737 Max was grounded, Spirit was making 52 shipsets a month. It 
continued full production for several months after the plane was 
grounded, stacking up extra shipsets at the company’s plant in south 
Wichita.How the agreement will affect employment at Spirit is unknown. The company laid off 2,800 employees earlier this month.The shutdown also has affected smaller aviation supply businesses in Wichita, leading to layoffs there as well.Thursday’s
 announcement assumes the 737 Max will be cleared by federal regulators 
to return to service by this summer. Boeing CEO David Calhoun reiterated
 this week that he thinks the plane will meet that timeline.Boeing
 reported this week that the 737 Max problems have cost the company 
$18.6 billion due to production delays, lost deliveries and compensation
 to airlines that have canceled tens of thousands of Max flights.Spirit
 also announced Thursday that Chief Financial Officer Jose Garcia has 
resigned after the company found it did not comply with its established 
accounting processes. Spirit said it began a review of its accounting 
process compliance in December.John Gilson, the company’s vice president, controller and principal accounting officer, also resigned.Spirit
 said Mark Suchinski is the company's new senior vice president and 
chief financial officer. He has been with the company since 2006.Tom Shine is the director of news and public affairs. Follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/thomaspshine?lang=en" target="_blank">@thomaspshine.</a> To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at <a href="mailto:news@kmuw.org">news@kmuw.org</a>.

Spirit to resume 737 Max production, but at reduced pace