The aeronautical supply chain involves a large number of players who have no right to make mistakes. Indeed, the smallest manufacturing defect can have dramatic consequences, which is why Thermi Lyon has implemented several levers to guarantee production quality and on-time delivery. Three of our sites are specialized in this sector, and all have the approvals and certifications essential for operating and improving supply chain performance: EN 9100 aeronautics, NADCAP Heat Treating and customer certifications.
Specific features of the aeronautical supply chain
In the wake of the global pandemic, the aeronautics market experienced a sharp slowdown. However, air traffic has been rising steadily since the end of the crisis, making it essential to be particularly efficient in the supply chain for aircraft construction. This means of transport is still known as the safest, but the slightest defect in a part can prove fatal for hundreds of passengers. As a result, aircraft manufacturers have no room for error: components must be of impeccable quality to avoid tragedy, but also arrive on time at the assembly lines.
If even the smallest component is missing from the Final Assembly Line (FAL), construction can quickly be delayed by months, costing the manufacturer millions of euros and upsetting the end customer. The supply chain takes on its full meaning here, as the slightest defect or delay in equipment can have extremely serious human and financial consequences.
For service providers like Thermi-Lyon, who are directly involved in this supply chain, manufacturers' requirements are based on two key factors: OTD, for On-Time Delivery, and OQD, for On-Quality Delivery. The targets set by prime contractors such as aircraft and equipment manufacturers for their subcontractors are expressed, for example, as OTD>90% and OQD 100%. These values mean that 90% of orders must arrive on time (i.e., on schedule), and 100% of them must have the expected level of quality.
Organization for better control: the example of Thermi Lyon
Every link in the aeronautical supply chain has a crucial role to play. To deliver parts of perfect quality on time, Thermi Lyon has developed a global strategy based on several levers.
Three sites specializing in aeronautics that never stop
To begin with, the Group has organized its aerospace workshops so that they can operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year. As a result, the plants processing these parts hardly ever stop (except for certain maintenance operations in August). In addition to this internal security, Thermi Lyon has three sites specialized in this sector: Thermi Garonne, Thermi Lyon and Thermi Loire. All are highly responsive and have similar, approved equipment. In the event of the slightest problem, one of them can take over to guarantee the delivery of parts on time, with the expected level of quality (provided that customers have qualified the different equipment at the various sites).
ERP for load/capacity management
To offer a reliable service, it is essential to know your production capacity in real time. This is also known as the load/capacity ratio. To improve visibility in this area, Thermi Lyon has equipped itself with an ERP software tool to manage the planning of C production orders. This software provides a live record of all orders booked, those in progress and their status, enabling us to plan our workload with peace of mind.
Three essential certifications to guarantee delivery quality
Since even the slightest error can have serious consequences, aircraft manufacturers require their subcontractors to present specific certifications, attesting to the reliability of their work and organization. There are three levels: EN 9100, NADCAP Heat Treating and customer qualification. Without this combination, service providers cannot work with manufacturers. As these certifications remain international, all service providers may be required to work with partners from all over the world.
The EN 9100 certification relates to the quality system. The second, NADCAP Heat Treating, issued by PRI, relates to manufacturing processes and internal equipment. Finally, the principals themselves, such as aircraft and equipment manufacturers, audit their subcontractors to qualify them. Thermi Lyon's sites specialized in aeronautics all have these three levels of approval and certification.
To guarantee quality services, the group has set up a system based on internal safety at each site, as well as intra-group safety, with production guaranteed to comply with current standards and delivered on time. In addition, Thermi Lyon maintains an ongoing dialogue with its customers through regular exchanges. We regularly invest in innovative technologies to meet the workload entrusted to us, without waiting and without prior contract.