Automotive Excellence in Aerospace (AXIS)

The current business and regional jet aircraft market is expected to expand significantly in the next five years, requiring up to a threefold increase in production rates for higher volume components such as aerofoils for the associated aero-engines. As a result, the supply chain needs to make a step change improvement in its production rates on these types of components.

As such, AXIS presents a project that aims to bring together innovative technologies for rate production in automotive applications into an aerospace cell to vastly improve production rates. These technologies combine digital connectivity between supply chain partners, advanced shipping and condition of supply information to drive predictive programming, automated part loading using flexible fixtures, and advanced machining techniques to meet this challenge.

The principle project output is a functioning demonstration cell for business and regional jet engine aerofoil manufacture with a connected supply chain component. This cell will show the capability to achieve the desired three-fold increase in production rate for this aerofoil component market. The optimised demo cell provides the immediate route for engagement with an OEM in the development of a supply chain contract.

The innovative aspect of the project is bringing together the four technologies in the work packages into a high rate production aerofoil cell. This includes the digital connectivity, automated loading of aerofoil geometry, adaptive measurement and control, and advanced machining techniques. All have been proven to work in other applications but bringing them together in an automotive style production approach to aerospace is the unique aspect of this project.