See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333417295 Case study: The Boeing company strategic analysis Research · December 2018 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.12570.49602 CITATION READS 1 67,127 1 author: Kamal Naimzade Florida Institute of Technology 7 PUBLICATIONS 1 CITATION SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Relationship between pilot experience and runway overrun View project WASS project for Boeing Company View project All content following this page was uploaded by Kamal Naimzade on 28 May 2019. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Case: The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) Strategic Management Final exam paper Instructor: Professor Keiron Hylton, JD/MBA Prepared by: Kamal Naim-Zade 14/12/2018 Table of contents 1. Introduction..................................................................................................................... 2 2. The history and current position. .................................................................................. 3 3. The strategy and making hierarchy. ............................................................................. 4 4. Diversification strategy .................................................................................................. 4 5. The BA`s hierarchy scheme of strategy consists from the next distinctions ............. 5 6. Organizational structure ................................................................................................ 6 7. PESTEL analysis ............................................................................................................ 7 8. The Porter`s Five forces analysis................................................................................... 9 9. The SWOT analysis ...................................................................................................... 10 9.1 Strengths ............................................................................................................................... 10 9.2 Weaknesses........................................................................................................................... 11 9.3 Opportunities ....................................................................................................................... 11 9.4 Threats .................................................................................................................................. 12 10. The Boeing value chain ................................................................................................ 12 10.1 Primary activities .............................................................................................................. 12 10.2 Support activities .............................................................................................................. 13 11. Generic competitive strategy ....................................................................................... 14 12. 2025 Goals set ................................................................................................................ 15 13. Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 15 14. Weighted Strength Assessment for Suggestions and Recommendations ................ 17 Appendix ...................................................................................................................................... 20 References:................................................................................................................................... 22 1 1. Introduction When the aviators start to talk, the first thing they begin is the aircraft. The newest and innovative, the largest and efficient. The airplane, which makes the aviation industry different, from others. The flying aircraft, carrying tons of cargo and hundreds of passengers to long distances in short time. The manufacturing most innovative and progressive product, such the airplane is, might be possible for few real strong companies, who made their names by manufacturing the best aircraft in the world. The Boeing Company is the leader between them. The Boeing Company (BA) is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures and sells airplanes and related parts. It is largest company and leading in jetliners, aerospace, defense and security systems. The BA provide all kind of support service for it products. The company is largest global aircraft manufacture, and the quality of Boeing made aircrafts is higher, than competitors’ (between passenger type a/c manufactures). The BA has about 141,322 (Jan 1, 2018, Wikipedia) numbers of employees and has presentation almost worldwide. The company has five divisions, all related with aviation: Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BAA); Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS); Engineering, Operations & Technology; Boeing Capital; Boeing Shared Services Group. The company revenue by ending the December 31, 2017 is $ 93,3B. 2 2. The history and current position. The history of successful company starts in March 1910, when the founder, William E. Boeing bought Heath's shipyard in Seattle on the Duwamish River, which became later his first airplane factory. He incorporated the company on July15, 1916, and started with manufacturing of seaplanes. The first big order Boeing received was from the Navy, for 50 seaplane. After World War1 company faced with stagnation in business, therefore, temporary became manufacturer of different products like a dresser, counters and furniture along with flat bottom boats called Sea Sleds. Beginning by 1919 the Boeing Company opened new horizons with first flying boat. That boats began to use for airmail delivery local and international. Later Boeing entered competition with other manufacturers for developing the fighters for US Army Air. During period 1925-1947 Boeing developed different models for civil and military market. In 1947 it flew first military jet aircraft, from that moment company launched new era in jet airplane constructing. Since that, the company became the worldwide famous airplane manufacture. The Boeing`s airplanes fly in every part of world. Almost all airline companies worldwide have Boeing in the fleet. Some of fleet contains by only Boeing airplanes. The company manufactures different types of aircraft. The current popular civil series: 737,747,767,777,787. Besides that, Boeing manufactures military aircrafts and produces the engines for space rocket and electronic spare part used in space programs by NASA. The Boeing Company is the second largest defense contractor in the world and the largest exporter in US. It located in Seattle, Chicago Company, placed in S&P 100 and S&P500. The Boeing Company has plans for future. The company work on possibility of using the biofuel for aircraft engines. They also determines the hybrid electric engine 3 technology, as the best choice for subsonic design. The developing technologies that way, will keep company improving in future. 3. The strategy and making hierarchy. The BA successful performance based on newest technology. Even in 1916, when W. Boeing started to create first sea planes, it was new technology based for that time, despite to the fact that first planes was made from wood. The owner choose the strategy to develop his company using the progress. He decided to build quality, not expensive airplanes and sell them firstly to the government and after to market. That way he differentiated his company from others manufacturers. He build his plant in Seattle to have access main material the spruce wood. During the World War and after W. Boeing, was able to adjust his strategy of developing accordingly to requirements. The planes for Army or civil staff for daily using. His approach was to prevent the stoppage. 4. Diversification strategy The BA aimed to fill the fleets of every airlines with its Boeing airplanes, therefore the line of products include all kind of airplanes, from short-range to long and extended-range with added tail tanks. In addition Boeing manufactures corporate jet: BBJ (Boeing Business Jet), very luxurious, highly equipped aircraft with special characteristics for private use. Thus the BA develop its strategy to answer to all kind of needs. Total commercial aircraft orders for 2018 is 642, delivered aircraft for 2017 is 763, with net orders 912. Beside, BA encompasses the development of missiles, helicopters and wide range of other technical products used in the defense and security segment. The revenue from diversification supported the company during the fluctuations in market. 4 5. The BA `s hierarchy scheme of strategy consists from the next distinctions Corporate strategy: BA was established from zero and continued to grow first locally but later it became international. I think W. Boeing planned to enter different market, as it happened after his leaving the company in 1933. The company diversified from defense aircraft to commercial became manufacture of not only civil airplanes, but also fighters and bombers for Army, missile and rocket engines. Business strategy: From the beginning the BA emphasized the research and developing for creating the quality product and distinguishing from others. Running ahead, the financial analysis reveals serious investment in R&D procedures. The company developed different models of airplanes for any type of operations, with possibility to change the configurations. That favorably distinguishes it from its closest and strongest rival: an Airbus. The BA provides lease opportunity for customers, the spare part chain, technical documentation and information updating. The BA also has educational centers for certification the technical centers. After certification those centers allowed to perform the special maintenance, inspection procedures, and configuration change procedures. Thus enhance the service network of Boeing and support the requirements of periodical aircraft maintenance check. Functional Area Strategies: other difference from an Airbus, that BA build it products in one place. Thus, company is able to control the manufacturing process better and avoid unnecessary transportation expenses. The BA invest to its personnel, hiring the high skilled professionals. The contracting with government for military orders, provide also the subsidizing from government. Operating strategy: the company create new type aircraft and sells them to national and international airlines companies. It has representation in 70 countries, communicating with major and local airlines regionally. That foster supply chains, 5 which is highly convenient for airlines, in terms of short time for spare part delivery, and very profitable for BA. 6. Organizational structure Boeing uses the matrix structure, each department has the vice president: Business development and strategy Communications Finance Engineering, Operations and Technology Human resources and administration Internal Governance International Law department Public policy The Boeing Company has its corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. The company is led by President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg. The BA organization consists from five primary divisions: Boeing Commercial Airplanes(BAA); Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS); Engineering, Operations & Technology; Boeing Capital; Boeing Shared Services Group. Net earnings in 2017 were $8.2B, with total revenues $93.9B and total expenses $76.1B 6 7. PESTEL analysis Boeing is worldwide known and operating company. Its clients located in every country who has air fleet. The Pestel analysis will support in understanding the factors which affect the operation of company Political: for foreign markets the new airplanes fleet purchasing is almost everywhere controlled by local government. Partly because some governments have ownership in of airlines, partly because the airline operations regulated by law. Another reason could be the high cost of airplane, at the end this amount of money leaves local market. Therefore airlines must conform the order. That aspect is quite significant for BA. It requires good relation between BA and US government for backup in case of necessity. Another important issue stated in “The Boeing Company 2017 Annual Report, pg.8”. The BA contracts with US government are subject to modify, curtail or terminate, in any numbers and turns. The changes in defense budgeting levels might affect BA in very negatively way. That factor implies the risk for future planning of company. Economic: the BA manufactures different products but main product is airplane, which planned to be used by airlines. The airline industry is high competitive part of transportation market. The airplane with better characteristics, than made by BA, will have more demand in market, hence adversely affect the profitability of company. The changes in customer requests also will affect the sales of new aircraft. Boeing direct depends to the economic fluctuation in the world. The exchange rate in foreign countries, local airlines economic conditions and load factor, affect the Boeing as the manufacturer. 7 Social: This factor might affect Boeing in markets, where US antipathy, might be caused by some economic embargo or by military conflicts in past. Those markets are mainly in Asia, which are developing and becoming significant. Technological: airplane manufacturing industry based on extremely high-end technology. The expenses for Research and Development (R&D) including the experimentation, design, development and test activities in 2017 was $3.2B. (2017 Annual report). Those expenditures are required to be competitive in the market. The level of this costs is not subject to decrease, because airlines require new options to be presented in new airplane (Wi-Fi, new safety options, less fuel consume engines) Environmental: this factor has one of the most significant effect to Boeing. Aircraft engines are subject for regularly up-to-dating restrictions and regulations. Those are related not only with air pollution, but also with noise abatement requirements. This regulation might restrict the purchasing and exploitation of certain type of aircraft or will require the modifying the existing one. Legal: any incident or an accident happened with Boeing airplanes worldwide, automatically involves the manufacturer into the investigation. The responsible governmental agency, who performs those investigations, have power to suspend the whole flights of investigating aircraft type. The airplane industry regulates by the federal and state laws, so any changes, might limit or make illegitimated the airline operation, performing by the certain type of aircraft. Which will affect the manufacturer production line. 8 8. The Porter`s Five forces analysis. The substitute products threat; used to be low, until the main competitor an Airbus, started to build the A380. That was moment changed the level to moderate, because with this aircraft Airbus received significant amount of orders and became real competitor. However, there are no others manufacturer with same quality level in market. The Airbus and Embraer (only for short range aircraft type) are only, who able to provide the same or close to similar products. The buyers force: The threat is moderate because: despite to the usually, high power of the customers in any industry, the airline industry is different, thus the buyers have very high switch costs. Therefore, customer are now willing to change the aircraft brands. Besides, while the Boeing will continue to build high end technology equipped and quality aircrafts, with required fuel consuming characteristics, this threat will remain moderate. Potential new entrants force: this treats is extremely low. The airplane manufacturing depends not only to huge financial investments, but also to high skilled, professionally and well educated human resources. The technology research, innovations and legal regulations are other aspects, which rise the entry barriers to this market. In case with Boeing, it took 102 years to come to current level. Supplier force: Boeing is famous and strong firm with ability to pay, therefore it could choose the suppliers, accordingly to own quality and stock requirements. The suppliers of Boeing are also well known, technology firms. Therefore the threat is moderate. Thus, the suppliers provide with quality parts (engines: Roll Royce, GE) and raw materials (titanium, composite material), those, the BA will not be able to buy somewhere else. However, financial strength levels of the treat to moderate level. 9 Rivalry force: this threats is moderate to high. Despite to fact, that the Airbus is only one significant competitor (moderate threat), it has the same line of airplane types, even larger, with A380 (to high threat). Boeing does not have the same type of airplane. The second players of market: Embraer, Bombardier and others, also follow the line of quality of leaders, thus becoming the noticeable rivals. 9. The SWOT analysis This analysis will provide with information of current position of Boeing on market, its threats, strong and weak aspects. In addition, internal analysis will be base for create the recommendations using the opportunities. The analysis based on 2017 annual report, current situation, financial data and the goals of 2025, retrieved from official site 9.1 Strengths - Worldwide known, global positioned, high technology quality product manufacturer - Diversified product supplier - Large market - High net earnings for FY17: $8.2B, operating cash flow for $8.8B - Backlog for $488B - High backlog proves the customer`s trust - High investment to R&D, will further diversify the markets for Boeing, to the aerospace niche, improve the airplane characteristics, stronger positions in defense/military market - High skilled, professional Human resources 10 - Large line of commercial airplanes, satisfying all kind of customer`s needs - Focus on enlarging the product line - Strong positions in domestic market 9.2 Weaknesses - Backlog for orders by $488 (it can be the reason of penalties as the result of late delivery) - High expenses for retired personnel (pensions, etc...) - Significant cost of research and development - High costs of skilled personnel - Wrong planning of B787 Dreamliner, resulted with increased costs - Limits in fuel type for engine, limited by today’s technology. - High reliance (31%) on US government contracts - Reliance on suppliers products, strong bargaining power of suppliers - Fixed-price contracts, possible losses if overrun 9.3 Opportunities - Only one real competitor - Airline transportation markets growth: domestic and worldwide(Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa) - Defense and aerospace orders growth - Wide backlog($488B), and new orders - Narrow body aircraft demand growth: B737 Max series - New B787 aircraft 11 - Expansion in domestic and international markets 9.4 Threats - Increasing in retired and resigned compensation costs - Market condition impact on demand for commercial aircraft and related services - Possible changes in defense spending by U.S. government - Possible modifying, curtail or terminating of U.S. government contracts - Possible U.S. government inquires, investigation and audits related with reimbursable cost - Risks related with performing business in other countries - Increasing the competition level between airplane manufacturers 10. The Boeing value chain 10.1 Primary activities Supply chain management: Currently Boeing has contracts with raw material, engine, landing gears and composite material suppliers. However, CEO Muilenbur`s shared his plans to launch the cutting supply-chain costs policy, by starting manufacturing more parts on own side. This decision will provide two visible benefit for BA. Competing with suppliers and long term aftermarket revenue coming from replacement demand. 12 Operation: The Boeing operation scheme consists building airplane/civil or military and sell it and provide the service. The significant part of operation to detect which type of product will be required currently. For instance, the plans for next few years is earning the largest market share for wide body aircraft. Distribution: this element important when providing the aftermarket service and spare part. The authorized technical service centers and improved spare parts net will add value to the product. Sales and marketing: Boeing customers are specific and they are not reachable by classic advertising instruments. The best way to communicate with current and potential is timely informing them directly about new models and improving available. In addition, best effect might be achieved by contracting with major airlines, even with significant discount cost to BA. Service: the best quality of service might be achieved by providing fast and professional repairs and fulminant spare parts supplying. Latters might be done by regional spare part warehouses and special contracts with airline for fast shipping with avoiding or accelerated custom procedures. 10.2 Support activities New technology and innovation research & development: Boeing`s all product based on most modern and even next generation achievements. The budget for this segment for 2017 was $3.2B. That cost supports inventing of new products and modification of current line. In addition, BA has standard for suppliers and subcontractors, based on quality, performance and costs standards. The successfully fulfillment of commitment to the BA`s customers, direct depends to meeting those standards by suppliers. 13 Human resource management: Boeing most important investment is skilled staff. It has special internship program for talented students, to find and hire the best ones. The hiring process is also complex system to choose the best candidates. General administration: Boeing executives adopted: “1) The Boeing Company Code for Ethical Business Conduct for the Board of Directors, 2. The Boeing Company Code of Conduct for Finance Employees which is applicable to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Controller and all finance employees and 3) The Boeing Code of Conduct, that applies to all employees, including the CEO” (Source: Boeing 2017 Annual Report). 11. Generic competitive strategy The strategy line of Boeing is focused differentiation. It concentrated on certain market and niche. Those are airline industry and military/defense sector. The product produced by BA is specific and respond to the requirements of customer. That is proven by backlog list and volume. This products usually aimed to conduct the business (transportation) or used by government agency in specific realms (defense, space program). The first case, an airliner expects larger, modern, fuel saving, different configured and reliable aircraft. The second is government, who requires a durable and trusty equipment, to entrust the safety of country. Therefore, with product quality and cost produces by Boeing, the clients in both cases are satisfied with their needs and consider a price, as a good value. The BA has all attributes to continue differentiation. It continues to improve its service with adding new one. The company invests in R&D, innovation and new technology. The significant issue is continuously quality improvement, because it related with most important subject: Safety. That is the competitive power of Boeing. 14 12. 2025 Goals set The set of goals for 2025, published on official site, includes parameters which company planned achieve: - Market leadership Top-quartile performance and Returns Growth Fueled by Productivity Design, Manufacturing, Service Excellence Accelerated Innovation Global Scale and Depth Best Team, Talent and Leaders Top Corporate Citizen (Source: https://www.boeing.com/principles/vision.page) We will use those goal set as one of the criteria to value the recommendations. Other parameters to weigh the competitive strength of Boeing will be: - Company Effectiveness - Added Cost - Added value with customer satisfaction - Added value with profit 13. Recommendations Boeing is strong company with some weak point, which are generally possible to manage. Wide backlog and new orders will secure company with funding for next decade. However, I developed the recommendations which will strengthen the positions in market. Some of recommendations related with diversification product line, which also would positively affect profitability. 15 The recommendations for Boeing future strategy: 1. Enlarge corporate sector. BBJ is not enough to enlarge the business aviation sector. BA should develop new models and introduce them to sector 2. Enhance aerospace program and products. More contracts with NASA will add profit and product variety 3. Move assembly and manufacture lines to place with lower labor costs. For instance to China, Vietnam and etc… 4. Start to manufacture at least 80% of part. Will increase the profit and competition. 5. Develop and build own engine. Will reduce the cost of building new aircraft 6. Investment to innovations related with cost reducing. Example, robotized assembly and manufacture lines 7. More composite material, instead of titanium and aluminum. Will decrease reliance on suppliers 8. Develop international relation with foreign government. Will foster the agreement for new orders 9. Enhancing technical support center. Will add customer satisfaction value. 10. Develop discount system to support new purchases. Will strengthen the competition with rivals and company image 11. Build own aircraft with 2 stage (Analogue A380). 12. Establish new assembling lines to speed up the backlog 13. Enhance military/defense sector with less cost, quality and reliable products 14. Develop vertical takeoff flying vehicle manufacturing. That project is quite significant and promising. 15. Diversify a production, by adding for instance the speed train wagon and locomotive manufacturing. The airplane manufacturing is limited with physic laws and fuel types, therefore at the certain moment the company will be 16 stacked with creating the new types. Although, diversification will provide extra profit and market share. 16. Fasten the positions in U.S. market to prevent the Airbus market share growing 17. Cooperation with Airbus to create the one aircraft manufacturing conglomerate. 18. Partnership with airlines or establishing own airline company. This strategy will provide the transportation with lower ticket price in market, hence the success of company is certain. 19. New fuel type research. The nuclear, solar or hydrogen would be the good substitute to the current jet fuel. Continue to develop biofuel researches. 20. Developing presence on Africa and Asia markets with “think global-act global” transnational strategy. 21. Became the benchmark for aircraft quality. Next table will show only ten most significant steps to support Boeing in future. 14. Weighted Strength Assessment for Suggestions and Recommendations Criteria Weight Company Effectiveness -------------------Recommendati on 1.Build twin airplane own floor 0.1 10 Added Cost (10 lowest cost) 3 Added Added Value Value with Profit with Customer satisfying 10 10 Supporting the 2025 goal achievement 10 17 2.Own engine building 0.1 9 3 5 8 9 3. 80% part manufacturing 0.1 10 3 5 9 10 4.New assembly lines to speed up backlog 0.1 9 3 10 7 10 5.Enlarge corporate segment 0.1 9 2 7 9 9 0.09 10 5 5 5 8 9 2 3 10 9 6.Cooperation with Airbus 7.Partnership 0.09 with or establishing airline company 8.Develop vertical takeoff flying vehicle 0.08 9 2 9 10 9 9.Diversify products(speed train, locomotives) 0.08 8 1 2 8 6 18 10.Enhancing military/defens e sector 0.08 9 5 9 10 10 11.Enhancing technical support centers 0.08 8 5 9 8 9 Sum importance weight 1.0 100 34 74 94 99 of 19 Appendix 1. Financial data of Boeing “BA is considered a "True Stalwart", according to this methodology, as its earnings growth of 17.59% lies within a moderate 10%-19% range and its annual sales of $98,154 million are greater than the multibillion dollar level. This methodology looks for the "Stalwart" securities to gain 30%-50% in value over a two year period if they can be purchased at an attractive price based on the P/E to Growth ratio. BA is attractive if BA can hold its own during a recession”.(Source: Morningstar.com) Boeing dividend (Updated 12/07/2018): Dividends has been paid continuously since 1973 and increased for 7 consecutive years. Price: $322.96; current dividend annualized:$6.84; Dividend yield: 2.1%; Normalized diluted Earnings per share: $16.64; Cash flow from operations per share: $25.82; Free cash flow per share: $22.90; Market Capitalization : $183B(Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BA/analysis?p=BA) EBIT data: EV to EBIT (TTM): 18.5 EV to EBITDA (TTM): 15.5 (8/17 points) EV to CFO (TTM): 14.0 1 Price to Book Value (TTM): n/a Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) (TTM): 21 PE 10: 53 Ratio data: Earnings Quality Score (8/33 points) Operating Earnings Yield (TTM): 5.1% (4/15 points) Gross Profit (TTM): $18208 M Total Assets: $114659 M Gross Profitability Ratio = GP / Total Assets: 16% (4/18 points) Cash Return On Invested Capital (CROIC)(TTM): 117% Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)(TTM): 87% Profit Margin (TTM): 10% Dividend Safety Score (24/33 points) Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM): 38% Cash Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM): 28% (9/12 points) Net Financial Debt: $1886 M Total Assets: $114659 M Net Financial Debt / Total Assets: 2% (9/12 points) Net Financial Debt to EBITDA (TTM): 90% Piotroski Score (1-9) (TTM): (6/9 points) TOTAL POINTS – (53/100) (50 is an average score) 20 Earnings Report: 10/24/18 Next Earning Report: 1/31/19(Source: http://fernfortuniversity.com/termpapers/porter5/lse/1395-boeing-co-.php ) 21 References: -Crafting & Executing Strategy: the Quest for Competitive Advantage Concepts & Cases, Thompson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland, 21st Edition (2018) -Financial Management, Brigham and Ehrhardt, Theory and Practice, 15e; -http://investors.morningstar.com/ownership/shareholdersoverview.html?t=BA&region=usa&culture=en-US -Bonds: http://quicktake.morningstar.com/StockNet/bonds.aspx?Symbol=BA&Country=us a -World street Journal: http://quotes.wsj.com/BA -Nasdaq: http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ba/stock-report -https://www.gurufocus.com/term/wacc/BA/WACC-Percentage/Boeing%20Co -https://www.gurufocus.com/economic_indicators/37/10year-treasury-constantmaturity-rate -https://www.gurufocus.com/stock/BA -Boeing 2017 annual report: http://investors.boeing.com/investors/financialreports/default.aspx, http://s2.q4cdn.com/661678649/files/doc_financials/annual/2016/2016-AnnualReport.pdf -The BoeingCo historical data from Yahoo!Finance: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BA/history?period1=1353560400&period2=1511 326800&interval=1mo&filter=history&frequency=1mo 22 -The Boeing financials from Google Finance: https://finance.google.com/finance?q=NYSE%3ABA&fstype=ii&ei=Z7MVWuns CJWBmAH514-IBg -https://thesystemsthinker.com/operational-strategy-mapping-learning-andexecuting-at-the-boeing-company/ -https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/12/04/why-boeing-and-gm-stock-dropped5-today-and-polari.aspx -http://investors.boeing.com/investors/investor-news/press-releasedetails/2018/Boeing-Reports-Record-2017-Results-and-Provides-2018Guidance/default.aspx -http://www.boeing.com/commercial/customers -http://www.fi-aeroweb.com/firms/Materials/Materials-Boeing.html -http://investors.boeing.com/investors/overview/default.aspx 23 View publication stats