Aerospace Supply Chain challenges for planned production rates

Airbus and Boeing have announced production rates for their single-aisle airplanes of 42/mo each and are thinking of going as high as 52/mo. Boeing last week announced a planned rate of 14/mo for the 787. Airbus has plans for 10/mo for the A350 XWB, and is considering a second final assembly line.

Bombardier, Embraer, COMAC, Irkut, and Mitsubishi each have new airplanes coming on line soon. There are more than 22 new and derivative airplanes planned to enter service between now and 2022.

How will the supply chain meet the demands of the OEMs?

It will be tough, says J. C. Hall, the chairman of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance, headquartered in the Seattle area. PNAA represents small-to-medium suppliers.

We sat down with Hall to get his take on the challenges ahead for the supply chain.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdB2i97XsM0&w=560&h=315]

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