Boeing has resumed production of the 737 Max for the first time since January, according to a Wednesday news release.
The airline manufacturer halted production of the plane after a series of accidents, malfunctions and recalls in 2018 and 2019.
New production will resume at the company's Renton, Wash. factory, according to the news release.
"We’ve been on a continuous journey to evolve our production system and make it even stronger,” said Walt Odisho, vice president and general manager of the 737 program. “These initiatives are the next step in creating the optimal build environment for the 737 MAX.”
The announcement was posted the same day that the company said it would be cutting more than 12,000 jobs through layoffs and buyouts.
The company said Wednesday it will lay off 6,770 U.S. workers this week, and another 5,520 employees are taking buyouts. Boeing had already said it would cut 10% of a workforce that numbered about 160,000.
The news release says that new measures have been put in place to ensure workers' safety:
"During the temporary suspension of production that began in January, mechanics and engineers collaborated to refine and standardize work packages in each position of the factory. New kitting processes will also ensure that employees have everything they need at their fingertips to build the airplane."
Manufacturing of the plane will gradually increase as the year goes on, according to the news release.