Right here, right now

AMDec20Features - k31
AMDec20Features - k31

K3 Syspro’s managing director, Nick McGrane explains why sustainability is a ‘right now’ problem for aerospace manufacturers.

 

Environmental sustainability has been a hot topic in manufacturing for a while now. We’ve already seen the need to reduce greenhouse gases and waste lead to governments around the world bringing in new rules and legislation to drive change. A recent sign of this was the confirmation that the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars will end in the UK by 2030. This dramatic change has made all industries sit up and take notice – and aerospace manufacturing is no exception. This is especially true for UK businesses, which are being guided by a government that has put green issues right at the top of its business agenda.

K3 Syspro’s managing director, Nick McGrane

The truth is that while a change as drastic as that seen in the automotive sector is unlikely to be on the cards for aerospace manufacturers anytime soon, it does mean that businesses need to be prepared and increase their own environmental sustainability practices. The signs are there. The government has already shown support for those who build sustainability into their business goals. In July, the UK announced £400 million worth of public and private sector funding to support aerospace manufacturers that are working to reduce fuel consumption, as well as the FlyZero study to tackle issues involved in designing and building a commercially successful zero-emission aircraft.

And the industry is responding. We’re already seeing industry giants like Boeing appoint Chief Sustainability Officers, while reports from organisations such as Protolabs have shown that 77% of industry leaders feel the need to use sustainability to differentiate their business. Environmental sustainability is no longer an area that can be ignored by aerospace manufacturers. Those that adapt in the right way will gain a significant, long-term competitive advantage.

However, as with any large scale shift in strategy, businesses need to look at adopting new approaches and establish clear best practices. Chief among these is the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and processes.

Building a sustainable business strategy

The first and most obvious area that Industry 4.0 can help improve sustainability is with supply chains. Using systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technologies, aerospace manufacturers can quickly access their supply chain setups and identify areas of improvement. This could be, for instance, with changes in suppliers themselves or via the reduction in the number of deliveries being made. These small changes on their own may seem insignificant, but added together can greatly help aerospace manufacturers become more environmentally sustainable, without disrupting existing business operations.

Another area that can be aided is in the production process. With Industry 4.0 technologies business operations directors can carefully monitor manufacturing processes, the materials used and the levels of waste generated. This can highlight areas for optimisation, that can then be prioritised based on the scale of change needed and the results they would deliver. Finding new ways to reduce waste or recycle components in this way will not only reduce the environmental impact of an operation, but also lower costs of production and increase a businesses’ competitiveness too.

Finally, Industry 4.0 also helps reduce the waste from quality control issues that can crop up. By having systems monitoring processes closely from start to finish, alongside increased automation on hand, aerospace manufacturers can incrementally decrease their levels of waste. This has the dual benefit of increasing sustainability while also reducing a businesses’ operating costs. A win-win for business leaders and the environment.

By adopting an Industry 4.0 approach and the technologies that enable it, businesses not only become more environmentally sustainable, but also more competitive too. The good news doesn’t stop there either, as adopting Industry 4.0 can be achieved easily and without a huge outlay.

The power of ERP

To get started, aerospace manufacturers should look at the latest ERP solutions which have been specifically developed to seamlessly and easily connect with a manufacturer’s existing systems and processes. In doing so, these solutions enable businesses to link together previously siloed systems and achieve one clear overview of the entire manufacturing process. This also means that businesses do not need to heavily invest in entirely new systems for all their processes. An ERP solution can connect to the ones that already exist. By connecting systems together, businesses can achieve greater access to real-time analytics too, greatly aiding the ability to make changes and operate with the agility that today’s aerospace manufacturers need.

When it then comes to completing a sustainability report or audit, Industry 4.0 has a lot to offer. Providing auditors and regulators with an accurate report is key, and any delays can end up costing valuable time and impact business operations as teams are pulled away to help with auditing. Unfortunately, the current legacy systems many businesses use make it hard to produce comprehensive, accurate data in the time required. Often these systems are more likely to have incomplete information spread across multiple databases, which becomes difficult to collate into a single report and review. With an ERP system in place, aerospace manufacturers can quickly access an overview of all their processes and gather the necessary information. In doing so, deadlines for auditing can be hit without disruption caused to business operations.

Looking to 2021 and the future, sustainability is only going to grow in importance for aerospace manufacturers. The need to reduce waste, hit government targets and increase competitiveness means that it is just too important to be ignored. However, taking the first steps towards increasing sustainability can be easily achieved through the use of Industry 4.0 techniques and ERP solutions. The time to make changes is now. Getting ahead of the curve will ensure manufacturers not only save time but revenue too. Those that fail to change may end up playing catch up for a very long time.

www.k3syspro.com

Company

K3 Syspro

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