Reduce the risk of late delivery fines in aerospace manufacturing
A "digital thread” ties together the key design, manufacture and service domains, including product life-cycle management, supply chain management, enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management. DXC ties these core components of the Aerospace & Defense value chain together to create a “Digital Thread” for our clients which enables an end to end integrated view across their business.
Leaders who are responsible for aerospace manufacturing strategy and performance now have the capability to access, integrate and transform disparate data into actionable information, particularly about improving manufacturing performance and reducing cost. A digital thread also feeds the continuous improvement cycle iteratively. Organizations can now use digital manufacturing technology to integrate design, product manufacturing, support and operations and modernize IT and Operational Technology (OT) capabilities.
Faster throughput, improved performance and quicker, on time orders
By combining the latest technologies with DXC custom built digital manufacturing tools and accelerators as well as our deep industry expertise, we transform product data management for aerospace manufacturing companies to enable process and product data to flow from one step of the aerospace manufacturing/supply chain process to another. This provides timely visibility into the overall manufacturing and support performance and creates a continuous improvement cycle iteratively between design, product, support and operations.
We have experience beyond proof of concepts and bring results from in creating digital threads, each supported by an integrated delivery model which combines specialist resources with ITIL and CMMI-certified processes. We enable clients to start small and gradually enlarge their digital thread, leveraging DXC’s scale, track record and partner eco-system.
For example, one DXC client was incurring significant customer penalties for missed delivery dates and carrying significant inventory stockpiles. Our A&D experts performed an assessment to discover detailed problem information and customized a solution to address it. DXC reviewed supply chain metrics, including indicators to understand the health of a system, as well as analyzing the symptoms and key performance factors that were lacking. DXC aligned the supply chain and integrated manufacturing, planning and customer demand. The outcome increased customer due date execution by 45 percent and eliminated fines for non-delivery.
Lower the total cost of manufacturing operations
DXC has experienced staff, both on shore and off shore, who truly understand the Design, Manufacture and Service processes in aerospace manufacturing. We know the vast array of installed systems aerospace manufacturers have, many of which are technologies from key DXC partners. This capability allows us to bring fresh perspective and conduct assessments of where DXC Digital Thread, along with enhanced process and systems optimization can drive both process improvement, simplify integration and increase visibility.
For example, one DXC client needed to better manage equipment, labor, material and other resources required for timely delivery of its products. The DXC analysis showed part fabrication as a critical bottleneck that needed to be optimized.
Thinking differently about how they leverage a digital thread, DXC’s experts upgraded software to make the most efficient use of raw materials and then employed Industrial IoT (IIoT) technologies to connect software that now allows automated and detailed instructions to be passed directly from designs. As a result, scrap and drop-off reduced by 12 percent resulting in savings of $66,156 per day and error and quality-related rework hours were reduced by 18 percent.
Increase visibility and throughput with a continuous improvement cycle
DXC’s analytics capabilities support the effort to develop and build ongoing platforms that provide visibility, insight and enable enhanced decision making. If re-platforming is within scope (e.g. SAP S4 or simply infrastructure), we leverage appropriate partner solutions such as SAP, AWS and Microsoft Azure and brings best practice OT solutions to ensure improvement.
For example, a DXC client had a vision of a fully integrated environment where all teams work from the same information. They wanted to increase visibility, improve flow, add capacity to support growth opportunities and be able to use actionable information to focus continuous improvement efforts. The customized solution built by DXC met the client’s business growth plans, which included the ramp up of new products.
As a result, there was a 12-fold increase in throughput with the same equipment and labor footprint. Sensitive material scrap was reduced by 97 percent, missed shipments were eliminated and productivity improved by 35 percent as a result of a reduction in unplanned work stoppages and machine downtime events.
Smart manufacturing: Digitally connecting the business
The needs of A&D organizations go well beyond traditional manufacturing. Smart manufacturing relies on connecting the business to leverage the power of information more effectively and will allow aerospace organizations to increase output, efficiency and develop a competitive advantage. The digital thread helps improve collaborative Design between engineering and Manufacturing while using input from Service to improve existing products and provide insight for new ones.
DXC Technology has a heritage of providing technology services to leading global aerospace manufacturing companies. This means we have a point of view and the experience to address the complexity of people, and link locations and equipment that aren’t necessarily connected across an organization. The outcome: Accelerated design-to-production timeline at reduced costs.