How to Answer: Boeing values applying Lean principles to all that we do. What familiarity do you have with Lean principles?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Boeing job interview.
29. Boeing values applying Lean principles to all that we do. What familiarity do you have with Lean principles?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Prior to your interview, it is necessary that you understand the importance the organization places on Lean Manufacturing principles. Working hard to eliminate waste is one of their core values and drives how they operate in all areas. Your interviewer will be hoping to hear that you have some knowledge of Lean principles when asking this question.
Written by Karrie Day on May 31st, 2023
How to Answer
At a high-level, you should at least be comfortable talking about how Lean production focuses on eliminating waste at all levels of an organization. Additionally, you will want to be able to describe how this could apply to the job you are interviewing for at Boeing.
If you have direct experience or training in Lean principles, be sure to talk about that and how you will be able to apply what you know with Boeing. If you don't have direct experience or training in Lean, try to do your homework ahead of your interview. As well, don't be afraid to point out your inexperience in Lean principles while showing you are excited to learn and thrive in using them.
Need more? The following resources from the American Society for Quality provide basic information that may help you answer questions like these in your upcoming interview at Boeing:
What is Lean
What is Six Sigma
Written by Karrie Day on May 31st, 2023
Entry Level Example
"My knowledge of Lean principles is limited to the concepts we reviewed in several of my classes at Georgia Tech as well as research I have done on my own. For example, I know the five principles involve the identification of value, mapping the value stream, flow, pull, and perfection. However, I have not yet had the opportunity to see the concepts applied in a live manufacturing setting. I would love to work with the principles and understand them at a deeper level if offered the role of entry-level manufacturing engineer here at Boeing."
Written by Karrie Day on November 14th, 2022
Answer Example
"I have not had the opportunity to work in a formal setting where Lean principles were implemented, but I am familiar with Lean manufacturing and would really look forward to working under the philosophy here at Boeing. Throughout my career, I've always been a proponent of eliminating wasteful work and processes and have always worked to make processes transparent and easy to remember. In this role with Boeing, I see these elements of Lean being very important."
Written by Ryan Brunner on November 13th, 2021
Experienced Example
"I have worked in Lean organizations for over 15 years. I am also a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt. I am comfortable leading change through the application of Lean principles, and I have experience working with resources that are experts in Lean as well as those who have very limited knowledge of it."
Written by Karrie Day on November 14th, 2022
Business Analyst Example
"I am familiar with the basics of Lean. I was scheduled to begin my Green Belt certification courses this year, but my current employer recently put a freeze on all non-essential training. I am eager to learn more, and I look forward to continuing my education in this area if selected for the business analyst position here at Boeing."
Written by Karrie Day on November 14th, 2022
Project Manager Example
"I have been a project manager for five years and the cross-functional teams I work on follow an agile methodology. I know that some of the concepts within Lean manufacturing are directly applicable to product engineering projects and I wanted to know more. Last year I signed up for a Lean Management Principles course on Udemy. I enjoyed it and I walked away with several ideas for process improvement for my teams. I would love the opportunity to explore Lean further here at Boeing."
Written by Karrie Day on November 14th, 2022
Software Engineer Example
"The projects I currently work on follow Scrum methodology. We are constantly focused on iterative process improvement, incremental quality improvement, and the delivery of user value. While I am not an expert on Lean, I see overlap between agile methodology and Lean principles, and I think I would be able to quickly get up to speed on the application of Lean principles my project teams might use here at Boeing. I would also welcome the opportunity to continue my education in this area."
Written by Karrie Day on November 14th, 2022
About the Author
As a former technologist, I was excited when I learned I would be working on the Boeing Q&A set. I knew going in that Boeing had a strong track record of innovation and excellence when it comes to their use of technology, but I learned so much more when I dug in to research the company. Here are a few things that impressed me personally:
Product Development Process Maturity
I spent time digging through the open roles at Boeing and I noticed roles that indicate that the process of developing products at Boeing is advanced. They know their stuff! For example, they employ multiple levels of scrum masters. This means they assign highly skilled and advanced product development facilitators to teams working on mission-critical projects. Additionally, some of their teams utilize SAFe (scaled agile framework). This means Boeing understands how to bridge multiple teams together in a scaled agile setting for maximum collaboration and success. That's important!
Lean Practices
Boeing leverages lean principles within their manufacturing sectors, software engineering, and operations groups. This means they understand how to maximize value, ensure quality, and reduce waste. Each of these practices is good for the company, good for its clients, and in theory, good for the employees of Boeing.
Well Developed Careers Site
The career coach in me really appreciated Boeing's careers pages. They are very clear about what they are looking for in each of the roles listed. They offer a breakdown of responsibilities and the types of traits/soft skills needed. They use descriptive language such as 'relentless improvements' and 'thinking beyond boundaries'. They also offer salary range, benefits, and relocation assistance information. All of this tells me that Boeing is committed to identifying candidates that are a great fit for their needs and their culture.
Talent Development and Long-Term Career Options
Boeing has a strong internship program. This is a smart move in my opinion. They invest in bringing young talent in, showing them the world of Boeing, and then convincing the best to come back and work full-time. Programs like these help to develop future leaders, and Boeing isn't shy about their preference for promoting from within. They also have a well-developed leadership program, a healthy list of business resource groups, demonstrated commitment to hiring veterans, and several continual learning programs. If the idea of working your way up in a company like Boeing sounds appealing, they may be the perfect fit for you!
In summary, there are always new and exciting opportunities at Boeing that offer a wide range of benefits. No matter what type of role you are interested in, landing a job at Boeing results in an impressive addition to your future resume. I hope this Q&A set has helped you prepare and boost your excitement about your upcoming interview at Boeing. I wish you success, and I encourage you to keep Boeing on your radar in the future!
Learn more about Karrie Day