Aligning Manufacturing Strategies with Complexity Factors in the Aerospace Supply Chain

Aerofirm is a large and vertically-integrated manufacturer providing strong and light materials mainly for commercial aerospace, but also for space, defense and industrial application. They face complexity from varying customer needs, a vast product range and a large network. Complexity at Aerofirm also arises from unsynchronized processes, this paper focuses on aligning the manufacturing strategy process. The approach proposed is to first calculate suitable strategy based on: forecast accuracy, volume variability, relative volume and supply chain depth. The results were then reviewed by key personnel to refine them based on qualitative knowledge, showing a mix of manufacturing strategies is essential.