To clarify:

On the 777 program (which I worked on) all of the systems engineering
and integration work was done in-house. In an effort to reduce costs,
Boeing decided to try pushing more of the systems engineering down
onto the suppliers (Honeywell, Collins, Smiths, etc.).

Most of the engineers that I worked with at Boeing felt this was a
mistake, as the suppliers tend to be self-serving and don't always
have Boeing's best interest in mind. They also don't play well with
each other like they must to successfully integrate the systems, and
Boeing engineers are often needed to mediate between suppliers.

The 777 program was a very successful program that hit its targets.
The 787 program is stumbling, mostly due to systems integration
issues.

This article is basically an admission by Bair that this new strategy
isn't working out.