So there is no model forsupply chainaviation

The arrival of huge sections of A380 for final Assembly in Toulouse was heavily publicised because that very spectacular and chaining of shipping to Hamburg to Bordeaux, the River on the Garonne, then the very exceptional road. But these ultimate links are the result of a small logistical streams flowing from suppliers around the world. "In recent years, manufacturers have become assemblers," confirms François Lepinoy, President of the pole Daher Socata. Build cabins of pilotage for example, to drain nuts, electrical cables, painting, and thousands of other parts, products and components that should all arrive at the point where they need to be assembled.

"These complex logistics chains are almost always surrounded of trade secrets," said a specialist. Because they represent a real know-how. So "there is no model for"supply chain"aviation." Each manufacturer or OEM and even each site includes its own model. "It is almost impossible to duplicate them," explains François Lepinoy of Daher Socata. This claimant is among customers Airbus, Dassault, Eurocopter, Embraer, Bombardier, Safran, Rolls-Royce, Thales, Liebherr...

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as models. Or "the very technical development of a"supply chain"aerospace requires several years of work", explains the head of Daher, for example, designed and fitted to Rolls-Royce logistics ensure the tracing of each item by RFID.

The logistics Vice-President and "supply chain" of Airbus, Pascal Eymery, spoke of the "supply chain" aviation as of a "system of Russian dolls": a final Assembly in which interlocking subsets combining components themselves meeting of basic parts... They come from external suppliers or productions in her own such as those conducted at base of strategic materials (titanium and composite parts).

A single conductor

Since last June as part of its programme Power 8, the European constructor has outsourced in part the steering of this complex chain around "partners", a sort of first violins that coordinate the reduced number of players remaining: "general cargo" transit (all exhibits transportable by traditional means) is now run by DHL as lead transport provider"(LTP) of Airbus and parts stores management is driven by Kuehne Nagel, "lead logistic provider" (LLP).

But Airbus remains a conductor because he kept internal planning of production and the appeals of parts, the steering of the stocks and air transport "oversize" with the aircraft subsidiary Airbus Transport International, 5 Beluga move nose, wings and aircraft sections. For Airbus, the choice of transport modes is strategic. "We him assume by not only delegating execution to the LTP is DHL", explains Pascal Eymery. In Europe, the road is the transportation of use for parts does not exceed certain dimensions, knowing that a truck can transport aircraft engines. The Intercontinental, the aircraft is used for avionics equipment. Thus, SDV logistics international, specialized in transport "overseas", uses 80 of cases the air because it deals with transatlantic flow. For example, electronic parts produced in France leave in the United States to return integrated into components assembled in this country. "A question of time and the unit value of the parts, it is unthinkable that they can be immobilized thirty days in a boat," said Jean-Claude Nérault, Director "aerospace" world of SDV LI.

Airbus reserves the maritime parts of aerostructures light and bulky to lowest value. "The maritime is usual for large components," confirms François Lepinoy Daher, but "where productions are stabilized." "Because the aircraft becomes a priority for the launch of new programs or changes of aircraft".

Between the transport links, Airbus has also created hubs logistics, equivalent advanced stores suppliers of the automotive manufacturers close chains of Assembly for the moment in Europe (Toulouse, Nantes, Germany, Great Britain, Spain) and tomorrow on other continents when will be new production centres. These logistical hubs receive worldwide necessaries to the production of each unit. "Order donors are still trying to reduce these stocks up assemblies, but they still needed when the reliability of a provider is insufficient or that it is of very low volumes," says a claimant.

Optimize each link

Finally, logistical be they leaders or non-providers are all used to optimize each link. "Our industrial client gives us an order available at a given date." We manage the suppliers (taken orders support, compliance with deadlines, clearance controls), passages for duty and to organize the transport... ", explains Jean-Claude SDV LI Nérault. Daher has his own Office which designs adapted tools (trailers, handling...) to dimensions or fragile parts should not be distorted, such as engines or helicopter corps pods.

Some equipment in containers (such as engines) or waterproof covers must be plotted in temperature and humidity, even in nitrogen. "We must ensure that packaging standards are met and otherwise correct and guarantee respect for the integrity of the piece until the chain." "In 20 of cases, these are our own mechanics that install on the aircraft exhibit, for example, ventral fairings in composite or thermophoniques insulation mattresses," said François Lepinoy. Daher Socata has this advantage: "both industrial, OEM and logistics provider, it can integrate its industrial process in its logistical benefits." It is one of the keys to our success.