The ability to transfer engineering knowledge and process excellence across industries is critical
At a time when the automotive and aerospace sectors are navigating tumultuous supply chains and severe skills shortages, the ability to transfer engineering knowledge and process excellence across industries is critical. At G&P, we see from our automotive and aerospace clients the extent to which the flow of innovation from one sector can strengthen another, and how this can unlock more value for OEMs, suppliers and customers
INNOVATION FLOW
For years, the automotive industry has been defined by high-volume production, cost optimisation and process improvement; OEMs and suppliers have honed complex assembly lines and robust quality management systems into incredibly refined operations. While in the past, aerospace firms prioritised low volume, extreme tolerance and longer change cycles, the last few years’ market trends have significantly shifted this focus.
Lean manufacturing, for example, which was once the mainstay of automotive engineering, now underpins much of the aerospace sector’s efficiency drive. From value stream mapping to just-in-time supply, the increased adoption of lean manufacturing has enabled aerospace manufacturers to streamline workstations, reduce waste and significantly increase productivity. The result being faster output, fewer defects and greater cost efficiency.
On the other hand, high-level quality management techniques perfected to meet aerospace’s stringent regulatory demands are now more commonly found in automotive, particularly as the latter deals with the increased complexity of electrification, advanced driving technology and software, and intense international competition.
THE DIGITAL AGE
Digitalisation is another prime example of shared growth among both industries. Technologies such as digital twins and advanced analytics, once primarily associated with car manufacturing, are now a mainstay of aerospace. These solutions enable the simulation of profile-critical components before a single part is ever cut, delivering true precision while and speeding up development.
Aerospace, in turn, has driven forward the application of technologies such as composite materials and additive manufacturing. When tactically deployed in automotive, these approaches are helping in the area of lightweighting, crucial for the sector as EV technologies mature and the global transition to electrification accelerates.
DECARBONISATION CHALLENGES
Despite reluctance from a few large global players, both sectors are still facing pressure to decarbonise and electrify. Here, the rapid progress automotive has made on battery systems, recycling and low-impact manufacturing is helping guide aerospace efforts to reduce the embedded emissions of engines and airframes, while aerospace-grade materials and components, originally developed for aircraft, are finding their way into next-generation vehicles.
With automotive and aerospace supply chains characterised by complexity, speed and scale, supplier management presents a major challenge for both industries. In fact, a recent report from KPMG highlights supply chain resilience as a key priority for aerospace manufacturers, and in a recent survey of global CEOs, 44% of respondents cited supply chains as the greatest threat facing industrial manufacturing.
At G&P we provide rigorous supplier auditing, process assurance and containment measures, all of which were pioneered in the auto industry and are now standard practice in aerospace programmes seeking faster ramp-up and product launches.
KNOWLEDGE-SHARING IS KEY
Innovation truly has no borders, and the most agile organisations are now recognising that sharing knowledge, skills and engineering nous between the automotive and aerospace industries drives up standards for all. However, the benefits of knowledge and skills transfer aren’t limited to these two sectors, and learnings from aerospace or automotive can heavily influence technological and process developments in, for example, the defence sector. At G&P, we take pride in facilitating this cross-sector approach, enabling our clients to increase efficiency, cut defects and bring next-generation products to market with confidence.
Accelerating progress toward a stronger, more resilient future for the automotive and aerospace industries requires a flexible, collaborative approach to new and prevailing engineering challenges. By drawing on each other’s strengths, OEMs and suppliers from both sectors can alleviate any built-in weaknesses and unlock faster innovation, better quality and ultimately a higher standard for customers.
