The aerospace sector is already a sizable industry, and it will continue to expand in the years to come. When you consider the numerous standards that businesses in the aircraft industry must follow, the scale of the sector and its projected expansion are even more astonishing.
Additive manufacturing
In the aerospace industry, additive manufacturing changes how parts are designed and produced. Engineers can use this process to create complex 3-D entities with varying material properties. This process has many advantages over subtractive manufacturing, which is prone to wasteful material use and long development times. One of the advantages of additive manufacturing is that it allows manufacturers like EEI Manufacturing to remove weight from objects, which can negatively impact the functionality of a final product.
By leveraging additive manufacturing, designers can create highly customized aircraft parts that are impossible with traditional processes. With the ability to create highly customized aircraft parts on-site, additive manufacturing reduces prototype delays to final product delays.
Multiaxis machining
Multiaxis machining is a modern way of milling that combines three axes into one. The ability to machine in more than one direction makes it possible for more complex parts to be manufactured in a shorter amount of time and reduces setup time and lead time. Multiaxis centers usually feature four or five axes, but some can utilize up to nine. Multiaxis machining is also becoming a common tool in aerospace manufacturing.
Dedicated multiaxis machining cells are used to quickly and accurately machine complex parts. They are often equipped with their footprint, team, and equipment, and they guarantee quick turnaround times for high-volume aircraft parts.
Quality management systems
As with any industry, the importance of Quality Management Systems (QMS) in aerospace manufacturing cannot be overstated. Not only are these manufacturers responsible for the quality of thousands of aircraft, but they must also meet rigorous standards to ensure the safety and performance of their components. This is especially important since the components of an aircraft have a lifespan of more than 50 years. Quality management systems in aerospace manufacturing can help manufacturers achieve these goals and protect their reputation in the industry.
Risk assessments
Aerospace risk management involves systematically identifying and mitigating risks that can negatively affect the production process, products, or services. As a result, the approach must be comprehensive, systematic, proactive, and involve key process owners. AS9100 requires aerospace organizations to adopt a risk management process, including criteria for assessing risks and accepting risks after mitigating actions are taken. Risk assessments should focus on customer requirements and avoiding product non-conformities.
