Destroyer or creator, victim or villain? How outsourcing and the outsourced worker are viewed depends on which side of the issue-and the world-you stand. Is the relocation of work destroying the aerospace industry or creating a global industrial base that is essential to its health? Is a job moved offshore a loss or a gain for the industry? These questions came to a head in 2008 as outsourcing played a role in the collapse of the U.S. Air Force KC-X tanker competition, the unraveling of Boeing's 787 program and ultimately the strike that idled the U.S. giant's commercial aircraft production for eight weeks. In different ways, these events focused attention on the aerospace industry's practice of placing work around the world to win competitions, service customers and cut costs. In the wake of Boeing's difficulties starting up the global supply chain for the 787, for example, its striking workers won a greater say in outsourcing.
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