Kind of unfortunate that this is the top comment here since the article has nothing to do with the immorality of outsourcing. I took his mention to be a throwaway nod of the head to the typical discussion of outsourcing. Then he moved on.
a mere assembly plant, bolting together modules designed and produced elsewhere as though from kits
If you are only doing final assembly you can move the plant every 10years or so to get the best deal from local government. It's difficult to do that if you need an army of people with a lifetime of skills.
Boeing's goal, it seems, was to convert its storied aircraft factory near Seattle to a mere assembly plant, bolting together modules designed and produced elsewhere as though from kits.
of course it is still designed in Seattle, and many of those parts and outsource partners are still in the USA, only 30% is from abroad according to the article.