Join the NWAA in celebrating the success of the ASCE Programme

Posted by: Amiee Category: NWAA news Date: Monday, February 20, 2012

The NWAA’s 1st Aerospace Supply Chain Excellence Programme is coming to an end and we are holding a summit in celebration of its success. The ASCE Programme has been supported by funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund. The programme has also been aided in the form of partnerships with key regional stakeholders.

The NWAA ASCE Programme has reached unsurpassed heights as a result of the first coordinated approach to supplier development by three aerospace primes; BAE Systems, Airbus UK and Rolls-Royce Plc.

We would like our members to take this opportunity to learn how the ASCE 1 Programme has enabled a substantial number of North West suppliers to undertake their journey to World Class. The event will feature around 200 representatives from the North West Aerospace Industry, and will introduce presentations from high profile industry figures. In addition to this, we will be holding an exhibition of the region’s most prominent aerospace excellence programmes together with the key work we at NWAA continue to carry out in order to enable further supply chain development towards World Class.

The culmination of this event will be a delightful 4 course dinner where some of the region’s companies will be awarded in recognition of the prestigious business improvement work they have carried out alongside the ASCE Programme.

For further information or to book, please contact Stephanie Howarth on 01282 607166 or email stephanie.howarth@aerospace.co.uk

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Forging ahead – Extended Enterprise Update

Posted by: Amiee Category: ASCE2,NWAA news Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Gordon Owen, ASCE 2 commodity group manager, writes how the NWAA’s Extended Enterprise project is helping improve collaboration between companies.

Demand from OEMs and primes to increase risk-sharing partnerships on new aircraft programmes continues to grow, along with the requirements of design and build through-life capability work packages.

This requires the North West aerospace supply chain to respond and react to ensure the long term future of the region’s aerospace sector. The additional drive by the primes to reduce their current level of supply chain interfaces, is shaping the response of the region’s aerospace sector via the ASCE 2 programme and the NWAA’s deliverance of the Extended Enterprise work stream.

The Extended Enterprise model is being developed to enable aerospace companies to form clusters of collaborative groups in order to successfully bid for work packages that they would not be able to access as independent companies. The foundation of this collaborative approach was first honed at meetings of the NWAA’s commodity group specifically designed to increase maturity and collective interaction levels.

Since the initial research phase (concluded at the end of Q2), the development and engagement phases of the Extended Enterprise work-stream are now hearing completion. This has seen increased engagement with aerospace companies, OEMs and primes to enable broader involvement and contribution towards potential model formulations.

Throughout the latter part of 2011, a number of focus group workshops have been operating, to which all NWAA ASCE member companies have been invited. It is hoped this will raise levels of awareness for the Extended Enterprise model and allay member companies’ fears and concerns, whilst also focussing on the aspirations and overall direction of how the model(s) could successfully work.

“WIIFM” (What’s In It for Me) became a well versed acronym during these focus group workshops, which formed a crucial aspect of extending the understanding of what are (currently) independent companies, in order not only to gain support for an Extended Enterprise, but also to understand what would be the final expectations of a range of customers.

An important deliverable within the development and engagement phases was the progress towards identifying the model(s) that existed and would be appropriate for further testing. During the focus group workshops, three models were considered:

Type 1, a supply chain model with primes working down their supply chain; Type 2, a joint venture company with a multi-owned subsidiary, and Type 3, a commercial alliance of companies each bringing something else to the table.

It was agreed that Type 1 is the current model, Type 2 a potential model for the future and Type 3 the preferred option. Running concurrently with the extended enterprise model(s) definition phase has been the requirement to formulate draft documents necessary to enable the lead partner model to operate within the appropriate commercial, legal and financial framework.

Governance rules have been formulated to enact the appropriate disciplines and business ethics required to enable such a collaborative alliance to function.

During the early stages of Q3/2011, five companies agreed to form the first lead partner model collaborative group. Assystem, Hampson Group, Hyde Group, Kaman and Morson-Projects, in conjunction with the NWAA, have signed a memorandum of understanding to underpin the intent of this grouping in support of the Extended Enterprise project.

Meetings have been held with Bombardier and BAE Systems to present the structure, content and direction of the lead partner model, and have received some very positive feedback, proving essential to the project at this stage of model maturity. Follow up meetings are being arranged with these prime customers, in addition to further meetings with GKN and Spirit.

The next stages of development are to work with the commodity groups to develop the model for companies to align to the lead partners and to offer that wider collective capability.

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Future Technology Forum

Posted by: Amiee Category: ASCE2,NWAA news Date: Monday, February 13, 2012

North West Aerospace Alliance invited members of it’s supply chain to share an opportunity to gain early understanding of the future shifts facing supply chain capabilities last Thursday at the prestigious Concorde Conference Centre, Manchester.

Over the decades, aircraft design and manufacturing technologies have been severely challenged to meet the ever increasing demand for increased aircraft performance, capability and sustainability.

Since the inspirational Spitfire aircraft programme, the world has seen aircraft design and manufacturing technologies achieve staggering improvements with such aircraft programmes as; Canberra, Lightning, Jaguar, Harrier, Boeing 747,Tornado, Airbus A320, Typhoon and more recent programmes of F35, Airbus A380 and Boeing 787. A new breed of aircraft known as UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are now breaking through and pushing the current boundaries of design and manufacturing technologies to even higher levels through the Mantis and Taranis projects.

To meet the next generation of Design and Manufacturing Technologies, BAE Systems have launched a project entitled SIMPLISTIC (SIMPLIfied, Sustainable Technologies for Integrated AirCraft).

This project highlighted its objectives to meet affordability via ECO-design and manufacturing, sustainability and uniqueness. It will expand on challenges to achieve such demands for 25% to 50% improvement to current performance, compliance and sustainability.

Under the wings of the G-BOAC Concorde, Steve Johnston of BAE Systems illustrated via demonstrator concept models how these objectives and challenges can be achieved, and how they will impact on our current supply chain design and manufacturing technologies.

This exclusive event gave the opportunity for companies to engage with this project in readiness to be able to support future design and manufacturing Capabilities.  With an insight into current projects and capabilities from UCLan, University of Bolton, Virtual Engineering Centre, Lancaster University, University of Salford, Manchester University and Liverpool University, this was an event which brought together manufacturers and academia and enabled future research and development projects to be discussed.

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Bright young engineers shine through

Posted by: Amiee Category: ASCE2,NWAA news Date: Monday, February 13, 2012

The region’s best young aerospace engineers were honoured at last night’s (Thursday) North West Aerospace Alliance New Talent Awards.

The ceremony, held at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Manchester, saw prizes handed out to the region’s brightest and best, along with the training providers and universities which support their work.

Speaking at the awards were Mike Sayer and Mark Byass of the Bentley Torpedalo Team, who talked of their own challenge which will take place later this year when they hope to raise £250,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Make-a-Wish by pedalling a boat more than 3,000 miles unassisted across the Atlantic.

The top prize, the AV Roe Trophy, which recognises the North West’s Best Apprentice, went to Jenny Westworth of BAE Systems, Warton, sponsored by Unison Engine Components.

The Irene Short Trophy, honouring the best apprentice from a smaller company, went to Nick Walton of Unison Engine Components.

Paul Scott, of the University of Liverpool, scooped the coveted Sir Frank Whittle Award, which honours the student at a North West university whose final year project is rated highest against the criteria of innovation and potential for commercial application, sponsored by Rolls-Royce.

Other award winners in the North West Best Aerospace/Defence Apprentice Awards included Xchanging HR Services who carried off the training provider trophy, and Nigel Woods of Kilgour Industries who took the One to Watch trophy, sponsored by BAE Systems.

Young guest speaker Andrew Fielding, a time-served apprentice at MBDA and winner of the 2008 North West Best Apprentice Award, recounted his own experience. Andrew recently represented the UK at the World Skills event held in London, competing against apprentices from around the world. The ceremony also highlighted the work being carried out by the training and education establishments which support the region’s students and apprentices.

The awards are part of the NWAA’s Take off In Aerospace Campaign aimed at encouraging young people into the industry by changing the image of aerospace and engineering jobs.

Neil McKay, chairman of the NWAA, said: “The New Talent Awards are becoming a significant part of the calendar for young engineers, and we’re proud to run an initiative which is held in such high esteem.

“There is a major skills gap in the engineering sector which must be filled, and these young award winners represent the future of the industry.

“We also recognise the role played by the employers and the training providers and their contribution in supporting these bright young people in the aerospace and advanced engineering industries.”

Sponsors of the event also included: MBDA, Training 2000, Wallwork Heat Treatments, Nelson and Colne College, Preston College and East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce.

(L-R) Mike Sayer, Torpedalo team; Jenny Westworth, Winner of the AV Roe trophy; Mark Byass, Torpedalo team.

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Global Competition

Posted by: Amiee Category: Company news,NWAA news Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012

In a guest article, Dr Andrew Mair, CEO of Midlands Aerospace Alliance, writes of the competitive advantage for aerospace suppliers investing in new technologies.

As global competition in aerospace intensifies, supply chain companies know they have to respond to keep up with the pace. Investing to develop new product and process technologies becomes a key weapon in the face of competitors across the world which have the advantage in labour costs and government aid. And any policy to promote economic growth and jobs via manufacturing exports has to invest deep into the supply chain if it is to stop the heart of UK aerospace being hollowed out and the country losing its place in one of its few remaining leading industries.

That’s why the Midlands Aerospace Alliance has been running its Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (ATEP) since 2006.

ATEP has given partnerships of suppliers, mentored by customers, the funding and vital project management help they need to take 12 new technologies through the risky middle technology readiness levels and get them that much closer to market.

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has worked in partnership with the University of Birmingham and Airbus to improve key computer aided design capabilities that the company intends will help it re-enter the large commercial aircraft market.  Aeromet has run multiple tests of a new aluminium alloy that promises critical benefits over current materials, supported by Aero Engine Controls and working closely with automotive casting house Grainger and Worrall. And Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems has drawn on the expertise of small ceramic materials expert company James Kent to test new ways to extend the life of aircraft brakes.

Supported by MAA expertise, small companies have led projects as well as participated in them. Indestructible Paint has collaborated with two other SMEs and technology experts Ceram to trial new coatings that eliminate chrome as demanded by REACH regulations, mentored by Rolls-Royce and Messier Dowty.

G&O Springs has led a project with two SMEs and the Institute of Spring Technology to create computer models of how different metal alloys behave when made into springs for the first time, giving customers like Goodrich Actuation Systems and BAE Systems unique data that is fed into the design of aircraft control systems.

These projects all give aerospace suppliers new intellectual property and know-how and thus competitive advantage in the eyes of UK and global customers. But what sets ATEP apart? Why is it so successful? The funding is certainly vital. Yet the critical edge comes from project management help injected by MAA experts and the senior industry engineers who make up the MAA’s innovation and technology working group, as well as the mentoring of each project by customers.

New manufacturing technologies for heat exchangers developed by the small Advanced Chemical Etchings alongside HS Marston are already finding their way onto the Airbus A320 neo. We fully expect more new export business to follow as these new technologies are exploited to help keep a bigger proportion of the aerospace supply chain and its high value jobs here in the UK.

ATEP has been funded by the participating companies, the European Regional Development Fund and Advantage West Midlands.

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