Boeing Co. has bought out its Italian partner, Alenia, in an effort to speed output of the 787 Dreamliner. The action involves taking over the joint venture that joins sections of the 787's fuselage, giving the plane maker greater control over the delayed jet's assembly.

The work, done at a facility near Charleston, South Carolina, "is critical to the success of the 787 program," Jim Albaugh, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a statement. The Chicago-based company didn't disclose financial details.

Alenia founded Global Aeronautica with Vought Aircraft Industries in 2004 to join four sections of the 787 that are then flown in a special "Dreamlifter" aircraft to Boeing's factory in Everett, Washington, for final assembly.

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