Moving from the decades-old practice of fabricating aircraft from discrete metal components to building aerostructures by cutting, forming and curing advanced composite materials, has produced a shift in the manufacturing paradigm for aerospace companies. ATK, an aerospace, defense, and commercial products manufacturing company, is using RFID to improve process efficiency. ATK’s Aircraft Commercial Center of Excellence (ACCE), is dedicated to high-rate composite structures manufacturing and produces composite airframe and engine components for the Airbus A350 XWB, and General Electric and Rolls-Royce engine programs. Learn how the use of RFID in the ACCE is enabling a “visual factory” where each step of the composite manufacturing process can be tracked and monitored automatically, from raw material receipt through component production through eventual shipment to the end customer. Hear how RFID informs the firm’s manufacturing processes and how RFID serves as a critical enabler for ramping up production for ATK’s Airbus A350 contract.
Speakers:
Brian J. Andrus, IT Director, Aerospace Structures Division, ATK
James Morgan, Program Manager, ATK Space PMO, ATK