Today, most companies in the aerospace sector are challenged by high competition, high cost of operations and high raw material prices. Airframe manufacturers, and other OEMs need to overcome these challenges by leveraging the key benefits arising from the globalization of the aerospace supply chain system.
Here are the primary benefits of using aerospace manufacturing, engineering and design services.
1. FOCUS ON CORE COMPETENCIES – Outsourcing technology, design and other component/sub-assembly items is an opportunity for manufacturers to innovate, adopt high level technologies for design and, implement best practices and invest in change; which would otherwise be impossible to achieve. 2. SECURE ENTERPRISE JOBS – Outsourcing manufacturing and engineering services would actually mean more job security for existing workers, because considering economic downturn scenarios; it would be the contractors/outsourced work that would be removed first, thus protecting the in-house workforce.
3. ENHANCED GROWTH – Globalization of the supply chain can provide the competitive edge for the airframes manufacturer and hence would help in the sustenance and growth of the company. 4. REDUCED RECRUITMENT COSTS – Lack of younger aerospace engineers in the sector has created a vacuum in aerospace engineering workforce, which needs to be filled in with external outsourcing services.
5. Engineering design services range from CAD (drafting, detailing and modeling), CAE (finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, simulation and flight physics), electrical wiring/harness design, technical publications, manufacturing engineering, avionics design, testing and integration, etc. 6. They also cater to excellent configuration management, IP security and integrity guarantee, which are the primary factors that go into selecting a particular service provider.
Points to Ponder – 1. The high cost and operational benefits are surely a winning factor that can be leveraged to increase productivity in the aerospace segment. 2. In spite of the large benefits accrued from aerospace outsourcing services are widely accepted, organizations may have to deal with employee insecurity issues. 3. Involving all heads of departments like HR, engineering, procurement and other senior leaders can help to generate support for outsourcing services within the enterprise.
The Karnataka SEZ in Belgaum offers aerospace manufacturing, engineering and design services.