Search Results

For many suppliers in the aerospace value chain, business commences when the customer shares the Technical Data Package (TDP) that defines the detailed requirements for a specific part. To convert the customer TDP into the necessary internal documentation, suppliers must expend large amounts of effort. This generally involves passing along copies of the TDP to each functional discipline, which not only results in redundant and laborious work, but it introduces technical risk. There are now software tools available that enable an intelligent TDP that provides more value than just sharing a 3D CAD model. These tools electronically organize and integrate all elements of the TDP independent of the PLM software in use. The application of the intelligent TDP has enabled a 30% reduction in supply chain inefficiencies.

Many aerospace & defense organizations have placed an increased emphasis on reducing the time to transition products from engineering to manufacturing while simultaneously reducing the product technical risks. One area with the greatest impact on these objectives is detailed design. This is the stage in the product development lifecycle when the development team addresses the detailed product definition and “Design for Six Sigma”. Unfortunately, most aerospace & defense manufacturers still follow a serial process for creating the detailed design. In addition, producibility is often not formally addressed because it is treated as an additional step that requires extra engineering effort that delays completion of the product definition. This paper presents a solution piloted at Aerojet for the detailed design and manufacture of missile propulsion systems.