Aircraft industrialization process: A systematic and holistic approach to ensuring integrated management of the engineering process

Aircraft production is a complex and lengthy process which involves a judicious selection of materials in combination with the option of various production processes. The objective of this chapter is twofold: the first part encompasses the evolution of aircraft materials and related techniques, underlying their impact in the complete life cycle of an aircraft; the second part describes the industrialization process to allow manufacturing of airplanes. It essentially deals with the specific process where engineering is involved namely in terms of the various steps that need to be taken to generate the information essential for the process. It includes also the connection to specific ERP modules such as MRP II and CRP which are essential to the management of aircraft production.