TURNAROUND: Boeing CEO says company met requirements to increase 737 Max production to 47 jets per month.

In Boeing’s most recent earnings report last month, Ortberg said he expected the company to ramp up the production of its bestselling aircraft to 47 a month this summer. On Wednesday, he said Boeing is “highly confident” that it’s ready to meet that rate.

While Boeing has previously seen production as high as 57 aircraft a month, Ortberg said he doesn’t believe the company can currently sustain that rate with its safety and quality processes.

“We’d like to get someday to a 63-a-month rate, and so we’re looking forward to that,” Ortberg said. “The market will support those higher rates.”

Still, he acknowledged Boeing has “work to do” to get to a point where the company can further ramp up its production rates of the 737 Max aircraft. As the company looks toward reaching a 52-per-month production rate, Ortberg said that process could take at least six months, if not longer, if the newly approved rate goes into effect in July or August.

Progress is slow, but at least it appears to be real.