Services

Material supply and lean manufacturing

The economics of production for all metals are affected by the weight of the  production batch of each individual item and this is reflected in the producing mills pricing structure. Obtaining the lowest price per kg/lb requires the buyer to buy large quantities (usually several tonnes) of individual items and at a lead time that fits the material producer’s production schedule (usually several months).

The application of 'lean' manufacturing principles by aircraft manufacturers has led to them producing smaller batch quantities of components on a just-in-time basis and also the need to operate in a zero inventory environment. This conflicts with the material buyers need to buy large quantities in order to obtain the lowest possible price.

As a result the question being asked by all aircraft manufacturers and their suppliers is how do I manage this conflict and obtain security and consistency of supply in such a volatile environment whilst minimising both price and total cost?

We believe that ThyssenKrupp Aerospace provides the answer to this question whether you are a small subcontractor or a major OEM. This is largely explained in the next few pages but since every situation is unique please contact us if you would like to discuss how we can create the best solution for you.

Having material available and at the right price is just the beginning

We recognise that different customers have different manufacturing strategies and need different services to optimise or reduce production costs. Because all customers are different, we offer a menu of services which can be tailored to suit the most demanding needs, these include:

• Quick response to ad-hoc requests
• Service Provision
• Supply Chain Management
• 3rd Party Logistics (3PL)
• Tooling Management