Optimized process chain for flexible and automated aircraft interior production

Abstract

The growing aviation market puts first tier suppliers of cabin interior under great pressure. Historically grown, poorly optimized manual processes limit the production rate of highly individualized interior components, required by the airlines. Different automated approaches offer solutions for high rate production of standardized lightweight structures. However, those solutions can not be adapted to individual sandwich panels. In this paper, first, the manual process chain is analyzed. Necessary components and features are identified and processes are evaluated with respect to automatability, accuracy, as well as flexibility and design freedom. Based on the analysis, a concept for the automated manufacturing of highly individual, flat sandwich panels with a standardized, digital process is developed. A discussion of the results shows that the presented process meets the targeted objectives, allows a simplified panel design and offers great potential for the development of digital assembly processes with low risk to fail aviation certification.