As an integrator for Airbus and Boeing, having an excellent supply chain is of the outmost importance. Recently, Saab Aerostructures arranged their first supplier conference to team up with their suppliers.
Attending the conference was about 30 representatives from 18 different suppliers that deliver parts for Saab Aerostructures production of doors for the Boeing 787 and for the production of Ailerons for the A320. The purpose of the conference was to create a dialogue between Saab and the suppliers and to let the suppliers learn more about Saabs production system, based on lean principles.
Image: The tour in the production facilities was much appreciated by the suppliers.
“We arranged the conference to gather together the suppliers who have a major effect on the programs where we are using pulsed production. We are resetting our operations and we want to create a complete understanding of what we need in terms of delivery and quality performance from those who are directly supplying the production lines,” says Stefan Rönnmark head of Source and Supply at Saab Aerostructures.
The conference was much-appreciated by the suppliers. A tour in the production facilities and a workshop were especially appreciated. In the workshop, the suppliers and Saab representatives discussed how to improve the supply chain and make it more effective in order to reach the over-all goal of securing flawless production with zero disturbances.
“This conference has been really helpful and productive”, says Paul Teange from Curtiss-Wright Ctrl. “For me the best part was the tour of production. There I saw how and where my parts were used and I can now better understand and visualize the effects of delayed deliveries".