Development of Measurement and Inspection within the global Aerospace Supply Chain through generation of industry minimum standards, collaborative working and audit programmes

Abstract

Development measurement and inspection activities have been a key challenge for the Aerospace Industry in recent years. Significant investment and focus has been directed into this area by individual companies, with encouraging results across a small scope. To realise a more significant impact and benefit across the entire aerospace industry a different approach is required. To realise this vision, the industry – Aerospace Primes, Suppliers, Academic Bodies and National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) – will need to co-operate. Initially this may be difficult to coordinate with barriers due to commercial issues; however an integrated approach has the potential to deliver significant long-term benefits to ensure cost and quality benefit for those involved with measurement and inspection. Purpose The purpose of this piece of work is to raise the standard of measurement and inspection compliance and performance across the Aerospace Supply Chain. Hypothesis The current approach taken by bodies across the industry has realised benefits, however the model used is not appropriate for delivering benefits across a wider scope. Therefore the proposed new approach is to use collaborative working to establish a set of minimum standards for measurement and inspection across the aerospace industry. The compliance to the agreed minimum standard will be raised using an industry wide audit programme.