Abstract
Considering the stringent regulations, manufacturing of aircraft parts is often quite complex and time consuming. The multi-million components, multi-tier manufacturing systems and the severe constraints surrounding the sector lead to heavy inventory investments to achieve the just-in-time supply of parts often needed to reduce the airplane ground times. Additive manufacturing evolved allowing for the direct production of complex parts based on digital data with no complex tooling or machinery, a messiah of true just in time production. Appropriate integration of additive manufacturing with the aircraft industry could resolve some of the supply chain and inventory hurdles. Significant progress is already evident in these lines, but the lack of quality assurance attributes and certification standards is hampering the progress. The state-of-the-art of the application of additive manufacturing in the aircraft industry is reviewed in this paper. The supply chain configurations of the aircraft industry, the possible roles of additive manufacturing in relaxing the pressures in the system are evaluated. The application areas, enhanced attributes, and certification standards are critically reviewed and classified. The overall growth in the application of additive manufacturing in the aircraft industry, the main hurdles, and the future possibilities are evaluated and presented systematically, clearly portraying the developments.
Highlights
Aircraft industry consists of several players; the sellers are the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which include the aircraft and part manufacturers; Boeing, Airbus, GE Aviation, Lockheed Martin, BAE systems and Rolls-Royce Holdings are examples
The multi-tier supply chain systems surrounding the operations of the OEM and MRO organisations of the aircraft industry are identified, critiquing on the complexities
The beneficial roles additive manufacturing technologies can play in the inventory and supply chain systems of the aircraft industry are elucidated
Summary
Aircraft industry consists of several players; the sellers are the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which include the aircraft and part manufacturers; Boeing, Airbus, GE Aviation, Lockheed Martin, BAE systems and Rolls-Royce Holdings are examples. The Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organizations are the service providers. The commercial airline operators and the military are the customers. Aircraft and part manufacturers sometimes act as the service providers by selling maintenance packages to the airline operators to gain the aftermarket revenue. Airlines operators are sometimes integrated with the MRO organisations, while OEMs often give customers the option for customization. With the interior design, as high level of customization is often essential for airlines in view of the high level of competition
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