Industry Forum

Aerospace

The Aerospace Sector Challenge

The Aerospace and Defence sector is currently in a relatively buoyant state, with long lead times for upwards of 30,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years as well as continued volume ramp-ups in areas of Defence.

There are still many challenges, however, that face organisations from within the sector in order to be competitive in the long term. 

Cost

Cost pressures will intensify with increasing competition and capability from Indian and Asia-Pacific regions. Suppliers are no longer in a 'cost-plus' market, but must achieve the globally competitive market price for their commodities, whilst maintaining sustainable margins.

Delivery

Delivery performance remains low, 100% On Time in Full capability will be the norm to win new business with no excuses. Customer supply chain teams cannot justify placing more work with suppliers who currently fail to meet delivery dates and cause schedule disruption.

Quality

Quality must be assured not defects inspected out. Companies need to start thinking 'Zero Defects', not just delivering 100% right first time but also preventing any defects from occurring within the manufacturing process.

Customer Experience

Customers are looking for suppliers who can add value through innovative design, technology and services. Companies need to look ahead and develop the 'future state' products, processes and relationships to be competitive for the next generation of Aerospace and Defence equipment.

Aerospace Management Systems Training

As a leading Aerospace management systems training organisation, Industry Forum has developed a range of courses to up-skill your team in the overall APQP approach and the elements of PPAP aligned to the new AS standards.

For more information please see our main training page.

Industry Forum has worked in collaboration with Rolls-Royce to develop a number of specific or endorsed training courses. For more information click Rolls-Royce suppliers should visit the dedicated microsite.

How can Industry Forum improve your organisations competitiveness?

Industry Forum can provide a range of improvement solutions across your entire organisation.  We don’t offer one single standard solution, instead our aerospace business consultants get to know your organisation, your people and the environment within which you operate before working with you to find an approach that is tailored to your requirements, meeting your needs and addressing your strategic challenges.

We implement training and consulting programmes, combining expertise across our four capability areas, in a format that matches your business context and resource constraints, delivering the impacts you need and the capability of your team to drive further improvement.

From design right through to implementation we pride ourselves on our ability to transfer the necessary skills to your people and to ensure that you benefit from tangible and sustainable improvements to your business.

What is Industry Forum doing to drive Aerospace Company Competitiveness?

Industry Forum’s aerospace business consultants have been active in this complex global sector since 1999, leading process improvement and supply chain development programmes initially in support of the SBAC Lean Aerospace Initiative. Industry Forum provided the catalyst Lean activities for many of the UK’s leading Aerospace and Defence companies.

Since 2014, Industry Forum has been a lead provider of lean expertise to the Sharing in Growth programme, leading the transformation of Aerospace companies, as well as delivering the underpinning workforce capability through the NVQ in Business-Improvement Techniques.

We have pioneered Aerospace New Product Introduction improvement programmes, building the capability of over 40 organisations to deliver new products right, on time, with vertical ramp-up.

Industry Forum has built on our extensive management systems expertise to become a leading provider of Aerospace APQP, PPAP and supporting core tools training. Our trainers equip delegates with the capability to apply the tools for real business benefits. Since 2013 our aerospace business consultants have been responsible for the global delivery of PPAP training and examination to Rolls-Royce staff and suppliers.

Aerospace companies are now recognising that they need to develop their planning, scheduling and supply chain management capability to be able to deliver low volume, high variety products in short lead times. Industry Forum is using APICS best practice training with facilitated workshops support to build capability, leading our clients to develop and implement effective, sustainable processes.

Aerospace Specific Training Courses

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Aerospace Manufacturing Consultancy

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What's Next?

For further information and an initial confidential discussion of your needs, please call +44 (0)121 717 6600 or email us today.