Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. said Friday it had begun assembling the first major part of Boeing Co.’s new 787 airplane, which is scheduled to enter service in 2008.

The Japanese company is building the center wing section of the airplane at a new factory in Handa, Japan. The part will then be sent to Charleston, S.C., where it will be joined by other parts before being shipped on to the 787’s final assembly site in Everett, north of Seattle.