Reducing Design Time, Part Cost, and Manufacturing Risk on New Airplane Projects Using Intelligent Software Solutions

New and derivative commercial jetliner programs face increased pressure to reduce cost, shorten development cycles, increase production rates, and create an increasingly fuel efficient aircraft. The industry also has limited engineering resources and suppliers with manufacturing capacity constraints. Designing parts right the first time, while concurrently taking into account available and proven manufacturing techniques, is crucial to meeting product development schedule and profitability goals. New, knowledge-based software solutions bridge the gap between design, manufacturing, and the supply chain, assuring timely, cost effective, and correctly manufactured products.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes used a unique knowledge-based software solution to analyze one of the most complicated jetliner parts: the titanium part joining the wing to the aircraft body. This part is costly to design and manufacture, and it presents project risks since the company previously made similar parts from aluminum. This analysis allowed the manufacturer to reduce design rework, cut manufacturing costs, and produce a part design that suppliers can profitably make at higher yields.