CALIDAD A+A
49
The development of andalusian industry and the role of
Mave Aeronรกutica
F
rom the early designs of the CASA C-212 and the C-101 through to the striking modern lines of the A400M, the Andalusian aeronautical sector has undergone significant changes. Obviously, the further back in time the more evident these changes are, but even if we go back only 20 years there has been a marked progression in a number of fields: - Market: After securing its leadership in Spain and Andalusia and subsequently joining the EADS Group, the company Construcciones Aeronรกuticas, S.A. proceeded to update its production processes and related areas. At a time when the CN-235 was making its maiden flight and the C-212 had completed its first million flying hours, the majority of its production was carried out by its own factories in Cรกdiz and Seville. However, projects such as the CN-235 led to the manufacture of major aerostructures outside Spain by the alliance between CASA and NURTANIO in Indonesia, paving the way for a new production model: subcontracting. EADS-CASA was conscious of the need for it to assume a role as the major manufacturer in Andalusia. To do so, it had to optimise costs and focus on areas with high added value, as well as building awareness among newly established auxiliary companies to develop a strong network capable of assuming new challenges in the future. This involved transfer of manufacturing standards, tools and processes, among other matters. Government support for the industry and the recent creation of Airbus Military has assisted this process, and today the subcontracting of production is highly diversified, not only for basic structures and installations but also for engineering and design of new work packages such as the A350.
These subcontractors have also begun to expand and forge alliances to enable them to take on greater financial and production challenges and compete at an international level. - Resources: Similarly, the resources used have undergone incredible advances in recent years, progressing from the use of wooden manufacturing tools and significant manual labour such as sheet metalwork to the current facilities with automatic drilling and measurement systems using laser trackers and laser interferometers. The facilities of final assembly lines, for example, have evolved from a single plant to various stations for the assembly of the different sections of the aircraft and tests of the systems as they are integrated using sophisticated and fully automated systems. Subassemblies are integrated into the main sections after being fully equipped and tested on test beds which simulate the signals received by the completed aircraft, optimising costs and time and minimising risks. Another major advance is in relation to the use of computers. Nowadays, instead of using original paper or microfilm documents for designs, standards, certifications and tests, all of these have now been digitised and form part of an interlinked manufacturing and business resource management system which can be accessed anywhere in the world as if you were in the factory. - Training: Even staff training processes have completely changed. In the past, major manufacturers offered a training school focusing on the products manufactured which enabled apprentices to learn the different technology applied. The training was highly practical, and the workers who started out in the sector were very young (under the age of 16). There were very few official state qualifications, and >> A+A