A Full Guide to Understanding the Aerospace Industry

The term aerospace industry isn’t something a lot of people are familiar with, which is one of the main reasons why this topic is going to be discussed today. So what can be said about this industry?

For starters, this type of manufacturing focuses mostly on missiles, aircraft, and spacecraft, designing the components for them. While aerospace fabrication stores tend to utilize tools and methods that resemble one another, aerospace parts manufacturing demands top-notch quality and a lot more administrative overhead.

Businesses that aspire to become part of this industry are obligated to acquire various registrations and certifications that will showcase that they prioritize quality at any given moment (this refers to the manufacturing process) to ensure they are meeting the demands and needs that are required.

For the time being, it is one of the most innovative industries in the world, and one of the most integral parts of it is aerospace manufacturing because it encompasses the development of extremely challenging and intricate products.

How Can Aerospace Manufacturing Be Defined?

Since it plays a major role in this industry, it deserves to be thoroughly explained. Are aerospace manufacturers really that crucial? The answer is yes! Without aerospace manufacturing, there would be no spacecraft, aircraft, and many essential systems and parts that belong to them.

This refers to military aircraft, passenger jets, space probes, and satellites. Aerospace manufacturing is generally very complex and something that definitely isn’t for everyone, since it involves a mixture of technological expertise, a variety of different techniques, and advanced engineering skills. 

As previously concluded, it is an extremely complicated process that includes numerous activities and tasks, along with designing, engineering, production, testing, and prototyping. 

Diving Into Aerospace Manufacturing Processes

So how does everything begin? It usually starts with research and development, during which scientists and engineers join forces in order to uncover specific demands and requirements for the upcoming spacecraft or aircraft.

This entire process can oftentimes be very time-consuming because these professionals are obligated to do thorough research to learn about various technologies, materials, and design concepts that they’ll be using to meet the above-mentioned standards and needs.

Once this stage is over, they move on to the design and engineering stage, which typically includes developing blueprints and plants for the spacecraft and aircraft, as well as creating different systems and parts that will later be employed.

As soon as everything is completed (in terms of this stage), the aerospace manufacturing process will concentrate on the prototyping phase, during which prototypes of the spacecraft and aircraft are not only constructed but tested as well, to make sure they meet the necessary criteria and safety standards. 

Furthermore, this normally encompasses comprehensive testing in a simulated environment, like flight simulators, and wind tunnels, and also physical testing in the air and on the ground. If these prototypes turn out to be successful, then it’s time to move on to the next phase, which is known as the production phase.

It includes developing the final spacecraft and aircraft by utilizing numerous advanced methods, such as 3D printing, CNC machining, and laser cutting. Once the products are finished, they are tested to see whether they meet certain demands and standards.

Is It Easy To Become Part Of The Supply Chain In This Industry?

The answer is no. Now, this doesn’t mean that it’s entirely impossible, however, what companies (that want to join it) need to remember is the fact that this whole process is far from fast and smooth.

In this industry, one of the most essential things is regulation. Traceability plays a major role for anyone who is planning on becoming part of it. The products that you’ll be making must have a particular standard and quality and apart from that, you need to prove this too!

There are a few standards that must be met as far as this goes. For starters, there’s a widely known standard, known as AS9100 which ensures that a particular business has stuck to the necessary standard, and above everything, that its product is considered safe.

And then there’s also ISO9001 which ensures that every single aerospace product meets rigorous, top-quality demands and standards. It’s worth mentioning that even if you’ve been running your firm for a very long time (meaning that you have a plethora of experience), you are still obligated to demonstrate the quality of your products and to show that they comply with AS9100.

Although you may be intimidated by all of this, bear in mind that it’s, in fact, extremely beneficial and necessary. If you adhere to these rules and demands, you’ll show that you’ve taken things seriously, that you are indeed professional, and above all, that you are ready to be in the supply chain.

The Most Important Elements Of The Aerospace Supply Chain 

Its supply chain consists of a variety of different suppliers, and as previously concluded, it plays a significant role in the aerospace manufacturing industry. A supply chain that generally runs seamlessly, boosts efficacy, alleviates various risks, and most importantly, leads to customer satisfaction. 

There are different crucial elements of this industry’s supply chain, and they include the following:

• Raw materials – To manufacture aerospace parts, it’s mandatory to have a reliable and effective supply of raw materials, like titanium, and aluminum, composite materials such as boron and carbon fibers, and electricity. It’s of huge importance to have a solid relationship with suppliers, because finding a new one isn’t something that can be done overnight. In fact, it frequently takes months, or at times, even a year.
• Risks – Risk alleviation from various sources, like product demand, design alterations, natural disasters, materials pricing, and political unrest is essential in preventing any type of disruption to the flow of materials all across the supply chain. Different companies tend to join forces with other businesses from the industry so they can reduce any potential risks, and, at the same time, share profits.
• The benefits of cutting-edge technologies – By virtue of the latest technological innovations that are utilized in the aerospace industry, numerous processes are simplified, like transportation management, inventory management, accounting shipping, supplier management, and many others. Furthermore, they are capable of gathering and assimilating data for data mining and analysis that can predict potential problems, unveil roadblocks, and track the most pivotal performance indicators.
• Nothing without resourceful and knowledgeable employees – Workforce management for this sector requires thorough planning because finding a suitable workforce is far from easy. There are several factors that must be considered that will help the companies recognize the right candidates. Sometimes, both training and relocation are obligatory.

The Most Important Players In This Industry

It’s safe to say that the aerospace manufacturing industry boasts a variety of different companies, starting from the ones that were just recently introduced to it, to the ones that are already renowned. The biggest names in it include these:

• Boeing – This is by far one of the biggest and most popular companies in the world, that’s widely known for creating and designing spacecraft and aircraft. In addition, it is also known for military aircraft, commercial aircraft, and space systems.
• Airbus – Here’s another perfect example of a well-established company known for its commercial aircraft, as well as its helicopter and military products. Even though it has established its presence all across the globe, its headquarters are in Europe.
• Raytheon Technologies – This represents an aerospace and defense company that focuses on the production and design of spacecraft and aircraft parts, as well as missile defense systems, and many other defense technologies.
• Lockheed Martin – This is one of the leaders when it comes to aerospace and defense that creates a variety of different products, like spacecraft, aircraft, defense systems, and missiles.

The Latest Trends In The Aerospace Industry

Over the past couple of years, this industry has experienced major growth and expansion, all by virtue of technology and its numerous inventions that have not only influenced customer satisfaction but many other aspects of it. The ones that have undeniably revolutionized it include the following:

• Focus on sustainability – The aerospace industry has put all its efforts into sustainability practices in aviation with a goal to decrease the carbon footprint. A vast majority of aircraft companies are continuously working on exploring materials that can make a major environmental impact and are using alternative fuels and effective engines to lower their emissions. Besides that, manufacturers are investing staggering amounts of money in more efficient flees, and, simultaneously, employing various sustainable practices, like recycling and waste reduction.
• Automation and robotics – This industry is relying on automation and robotics to enhance efficacy, and concurrently, decrease its expenses. Nowadays, robotics are used in different manufacturing processes, like fastening and drilling to boost speed and accuracy. Additionally, autonomous aircraft, along with drones are designed for surveying, cargo delivery, and surveillance purposes.
• Connectivity is taken up a notch – It’s safe to say that big data analytics and the Internet of Things have completely transformed the aerospace industry in the most positive way, enabling much better connectivity and data insights. Because of them, aircraft can now send real-time information concerning maintenance and performance demands, enabling airlines to not only optimize operations but boost safety as well. Aside from that, loT-enabled systems are utilized for the control and supervision of ground operations.
• Commercial space exploration – Space exploration isn’t something that piques the interest of only space agencies and governments. The private sector is also interested in having numerous space exploration endeavors and joining forces with government agencies to accomplish common goals. These days, a variety of different businesses, like Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and SpaceX are concentrating on making launch vehicles and spacecraft to ensure space travel is a lot more accessible and cost-effective. 
• Different technological innovations concerning electric propulsion – This industry is exploring various electric propulsion innovations because it sees them as an excellent replacement for conventional jet engines. The good news is that an electric aircraft is capable of decreasing noise, emissions, and maintenance expenses, while, at the same time, enhancing reliability and efficacy. A lot of companies (that are leaders in the aerospace industry) such as Airbus, Boeing, and Rolls-Royce are investing a substantial amount of money in electric propulsion technologies, and exploring various brand-new designs for electric-powered aircraft.

Is This Industry Facing Any Challenges?

Just like many other industries, this one is dealing with a few challenges too. This comes as no surprise since it is full of intricacies and challenges. Companies that are involved in aerospace manufacturing must do whatever is in their power to overcome any obstacles that may come along the way.

As concluded above, there are numerous challenges that stroke it and the biggest ones include these:

1. Complying with regulatory requirements – As mentioned above, this industry is very strict when it comes to certain rules and regulations, which means that all products are obligated to meet certain performance and safety demands, and companies that work within this industry must navigate challenging regulatory landscape if they want to properly advertise their products.
2. Tackling numerous supply chain risks – Aerospace manufacturing encompasses collaborating with a variety of different partners and suppliers, and if companies want to get access to different useful materials and parts, they need to be very cautious when dealing with supply chains.
3. The complexity of handling expenses – It is widely known that aerospace manufacturing is a capital-intensive industry, hence companies that belong to it must cautiously manage their expenses if they want to preserve their competitive edge. This includes leveraging advanced processes and technologies to boost efficacy and lower waste.
4. Quality and reliability must be prioritized – Products that come from this industry must always be first-class and reliable as well to ensure that every single passenger and crew member is safeguarded. In order to accomplish that, rigorous quality control and different testing protocols must be implemented.

In its inception, everything revolved around constructing an aircraft, however, as you can see, in the meantime, this industry has made major progress and has driven various inventions that have turned it into one of the biggest and most promising industries in the world.