The rate of production of the B737 or A320 aircraft families is around 50 aircraft per month. This is a far cry from what is typical in the automotive industry. The automotive industry can produce one vehicle per minute. Aircraft manufacturers cannot reach such production rates, as they are much less automated than car manufacturers. This is logical. It is a manufacturing activity in small series. In the aerospace sector, craftsmanship reigns supreme.
Smart tools, above all, will help manufacturers to improve their responsiveness.
Therefore, I do not believe that the aerospace sector will reach full automation, at least on the assembly lines. Not in the near future.
But the Factory of the future is on its way, even for the aerospace sector. A new generation of robots is coming. Cheaper and smarter. They will work with people instead of replacing them. They will fetch tools and parts, move things around, tidy up and pick up and provide safety measures for technicians.
It will also come a virtual world. Technicians will work with laser technology that will project the most up-to-date version of the plans on their workbenches. Smart glasses will be used to give work instructions. The old paper work instructions will soon be a thing of the past. Even augmented reality will be used to show the technician the virtual parts to assist him in the assembly process.
Automated warehouse systems, RFID tracking systems, gamification, tablets, 3D printing, nanotechnology... the list seems endless.
Smart tools, above all, will help manufacturers improve their responsiveness. The aerospace industry manufactures highly customised products. It is essential to meet customer demands. The industry needs flexibility. Smart tools will give you the ability to ramp up and down production in shorter periods of time.
We should not be afraid of these changes. Technology will give workers a helping hand. The factory of the future requires a highly skilled workforce. The old industrial model of offshoring manufacturing to regions with cheap labour is coming to an end.
