Digitalization in the Aerospace Sector

From Product Design to Manufacturing & Operations

The aerospace and defense industry has laid ambitious plans to reconcile mobility with sustainability. Sustainable aviation fuels, electrification, hydrogen-powered aircraft and eVTOLS (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) are just some of the current developments leading to profound changes in the way we think, design, engineer, manufacture, maintain and operate aircraft. Disruptive innovation brings in great excitement. For aerospace companies, it also comes with its share of risk and uncertainty, especially when it is associated with significant changes in architecture or introducing new materials and processes.

The more we change, the less we can rely on experience. OEMs have come to realize that digitalization is key to competitive product development today. But like any transformation, it's easier said than done. Recently, Rolls-Royce unveiled plans to become a “Digital First” company, articulating its strategy around a new concept called Digital “O”. As Rolls-Royce puts it, “The Digital “O” is recognition of how physical and digital capabilities must seamlessly combine in order to deliver cutting-edge value propositions for our customers.” The framework shown in Figure 1 is useful to illustrate the complementary digital aspects of modelling and simulation to the traditional design and verification stages of a product lifecycle.