CASiM2 projects helps the CWAF bring expertise to UK aerospace

to bring together engineering knowledge and manufacturing expertise to the aerospace industry.

Every company within CWAF is a strategic supplier to many tier 1 global aerospace companies within the Coventry and Warwickshire region and nationally throughout the UK.  Seven companies within CWAF had a common capacity challenge; they clustered together to work on potential solutions to move forward with managing their capacity more efficiently, through this they were introduced to the CASiM2 project. Brief: With recent forecasts for future growth in the aerospace sector CWAF took advantage of the CASiM2 project to identify areas of improvement in their manufacturing resource planning processes particularly in relation to the aerospace supply chain. This included looking at methods for the effective planning of all resources, including, estimating the capacity required for initial projects through to the final completed job, and how they could be more efficient. CWAF turned to the CASiM2 project to gain support, research and guidance to ensure they were working to the required capacity. Action: The CASiM2 project engineer at MTC spent a day at each of the seven manufacturing sites and looked at whether improvements could be made to their current processes, in particular the management of capacity in the supply chain process. The brief was to find innovative solutions to improve each of seven companies effective planning of all resources in manufacturing and production process. The engineer was challenged with researching any unexpected problems that may delay production and specifically address any potential problems in the companies' manufacturing change process – to reduce costs and make the companies within CWAF efficient go-to companies in the aerospace market. Result: The engineers at MTC presented the cluster within CWAF with potential problems that could arise and solutions to improve their manufacturing change processes. The engineer made specific recommendation to look at areas of understaffing, value of time and the time spent in the estimation stages for potential clients. With the feedback from the engineer at MTC the cluster were able to review the level of Contract review at the Estimating stage and production stage, enabling them to realistically forecast the amount of time, resources, labour and financial backing that would be required. By doing this it gave the companies a clear opportunity to improve their current processes and become more efficient. The CASiM2 project gave the companies the evidence, knowledge and guidance to improve their capacity planning and output.  Business benefits: The CASiM2 project allowed the companies within CWAF to come together and strengthen their business relationship and promote and share best practices to improve the aerospace industry. The seven companies were able to share business sensitive information and highlight skills and improvement areas within their businesses. The CASiM2 project has enabled the companies to talk to potential customers with analytical data and information to back up their processes which has strengthened negotiations. Since receiving support from the CASiM2 project, MTC and CWAF have collaborated in reaching out to young engineers of the future at the Coventry and Warwickshire Aerospace Forum and MTC Engineering Showcase, by giving enthusiastic presentations to 200 pupils from local schools to encourage them into careers in engineering. Why should businesses access CASiM2: Jason Aldridge, Coventry and Warwickshire Aerospace Forum chairman said: “The CASiM2 project has given the cluster within CWAF access to knowledge, facilities and expertise which are essential for strengthening the aerospace industry. The project had inspired and motived the cluster to make improvements within their businesses. When talking to potential customers the cluster has the analytical data to strengthen negotiations and business decisions.” www.the-mtc.org/resources/casim2