BAE Systems is transforming its manufacturing operations by deploying a powerful blend of advanced manufacturing technologies and lean manufacturing methods, which deliver superior customer value, product performance and service performance.
The manufacturing capabilities listed below encompass facilities, processes and people capabilities within the Operations organisation at BAE Systems.
Through lean manufacturing, BAE Systems is focusing on the development of optimised processes and greater flexibility across product lines, to improve customer satisfaction and guarantee right-first-time quality, to increase productivity and to enhance safety for our workforce.
Capabilities
Military Air Solutions has a number of key manufacturing capabilities:
Advanced Airframe Assembly
– this involves assembly of machined structures using predominantly composite skins digital processes. Advanced Airframe Assembly includes Mechanical Marry up, mechanical and electrical system integration and test of full aircraft and major units (front, centre or rear fuse, wings, fins etc), Mechanical assembly of minor units - door, access panels etc.
Advanced Composites
– composites manufacture includes traditional techniques and advanced manufacturing methods to produce composite structures. Carbon fibre has the highest specific stiffness of any commercially available fibre, very high strength in both tension and compression and a high resistance to corrosion creep and fatigue.
Electrics
– electrics covers the manufacture, test and installation of traditional HPPC wiring harnesses to more complex fibre optics within the aircraft necessary for system integration and operation.
Advanced Fabrication
– includes precision assembly of complex aluminium and titanium structures for the manufacture of airframe components. The following Hot Form processes are used to produce highly unitised products. Super Plastic Forming (SPF), and Diffusion Bonding (DB).
Flightline
– post assembly activities required to support the flight test of new, refurbished or in-service aircraft prior to delivery to the customer.
Machining
– traditional machining covers simple machined items typically brackets, bushes, bolts etc. Advanced Machining includes multi-axis machining resulting in highly unitised components.
Treatments
– an integral part of manufacturing operations. Inter-operation processes, final treatment and inspections processes to ensure protection.
