April 22 (Reuters) - Boeing ( BA ) expects a slower

increase in the production rate and deliveries of its 787

widebody jets as the U.S. planemaker wrestles with supplier

shortages "on a few key parts," an executive on the program told

workers on Monday.

Boeing ( BA ) still plans to steadily increase its rate to meet

"strong demand," according to the memo seen by Reuters from

Scott Stocker, 787 vice president and general manager, to

workers at its South Carolina facility.

"We continue to manage through supplier shortages on a few

key parts," the memo said. "To that end, we have shared with our

customers that we expect a slower increase in our rate of

production and deliveries."

Boeing ( BA ) said its 787 production rate was five per month

during the last quarter of 2023.

Boeing ( BA ), which reports earnings on Wednesday, faces scrutiny

over the manufacturing of its 777 and 787 widebody jets after

company engineer Sam Salehpour spoke out last week at a U.S.

Senate hearing.

Salehpour has claimed Boeing ( BA ) failed to adequately shim,

or use a thin piece of material to fill tiny gaps in a

manufactured product, an omission that could cause premature

fatigue failure over time in some areas of the 787 Dreamliner.

The planemaker said there had been no findings of fatigue on

its older 787 jets.

Boeing's ( BA ) separate production of its 737 MAX single-aisle

jet in Washington state has fallen sharply as U.S. regulators

step up factory checks and workers slow the assembly line

outside Seattle to complete outstanding work.

Boeing's ( BA ) safety culture and manufacturing quality have come

under fire following a January mid-air panel blowout on a

near-new 737 MAX 9.

Planemakers have broadly been wrestling with shortages of

parts and labor due to supply chain snags that have led to

delays in deliveries to airlines.