Airbus Commercial Aircraft Company boasts of being around for the last 50 years. During this time, the company has built over 13,500 commercial aircraft; little wonder, the feat has made Airbus maintain an enviable lead in the industry by focusing keenly on performance, innovation, and efficiency. In retrospect, Airbus aircraft's production primarily benefits from an international industrial system. This means a worldwide food supply chain buoys remarkable cooperation across Airbus' global footprint.
The company has gradually evolved the methods used to build its aircraft. For example, it uses new digital technology to deliver the products on time- it uses this technology to maintain high-quality standards and keep its manufacturing flexibility on track. The same modern technology helps the company reduce the effect of manufacturing activities on the environment- ultimately, this improves the overall sustainability.
Thinking about its future prospects, the company has chosen to undertake a major transformative program; the program is known as Digital Design Manufacturing & Services. The company hopes to use the program to respond to the increasingly competitive marketplace dynamics. It hopes to do this while preparing to produce the next generation of a modern, state-of-the-art aircraft. In summary, Airbus intends to meet its own set goals of becoming the first major aircraft manufacturer to develop a climate-neutral commercial plane, expected to soar to the skies sometimes in 2035.
To hit these goals and realize its ambitions, Airbus is strongly endeavouring to keep the assembly and manufacturing processes in constant evolution, introducing new tools and jobs that bring in a different way to design and build the machines. The company also wishes to improve the workplace environment for hundreds of employees. Since the modern techniques come with enhanced modular design and customization capacities, it's evident that the next industrial system will take advantage of the higher standardization levels and commonality of parts and components.
This means the company must activate its decoupled approaches, including its famous Build-To-Stock and Build-to-Order systems. Further, the factory teams will utilize the more digitally-connected processes, devices, and tools. Thus, the just-in-time flexible operations system will result in a faster, more efficient aircraft production. Also, the product will be realized in a clear, more efficient environment that enhances safety. The employee will perform their daily operations in a way that adds value; this will be possible with the support of robots and the use of lighter-weight tooling.
Likely, using this hugely ambitious makeover, Airbus expects to adapt its production rates to meet customer demand rapidly. In this way, the quality will be further enhanced, and there'll be flexibility in aircraft delivery procedures. Ultimately, the environmental impact will be significantly lowered by decarbonizing the manufacturing activities, thus considerably reducing costs. Airbus figures out that four primary factors will drive its industrial transformation processes. The four include robotics, decarbonization, co-design, modern tools, and manufacturing efficiency.
The grand Airbus program first started in 1965- at that time, the governments of Germany and France initiated discussions focused on forming a consortium with the mandate to build a European-made high capacity, short-haul jet transportation system. Thus, in 1966, the British, German, and French officials publicly announced that Arge Airbus( a German consortium), Sud Aviation ( France aerospace companies), and Hawker Siddeley Aviation from Britain would work together to study how to develop a 300-seat airliner intended for the short-haul sector. Since the desired engines that could meet the requirements for the Airbus failed to materialize, the engineers scaled the initial design, turning it into a 250-seat airliner. However, the British government later opted out of the program in 1969, leaving France and Germany to proceed to the construction phase.
Today, Airbus employs over 50,000 people; these work directly on the various Airbus assembly plants in Germany, France, the US, Spain, China, and the UK. Other Airbus employees work in the engineering division, training, sales, and other operative segments worldwide. The consortium that collaborates with this company has over 15,000 suppliers; it holds cooperative agreements with multiple companies worldwide.
US companies account for about 1/3 of Airbus components. Airbus' partner companies are responsible for performing much of the product subassembly in their local factories. For example, all Airbus aircraft wings are designed and made in the UK. The factories and subassemblies in Spain are responsible for the production of the tail. The subassemblies are usually transported by road, barge, rail, aircraft, and ship. A fleet of special jets known as the Airbus Super Transporter Beluga ferries these to the final assembly plants in Germany, France, and China.