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Aerospace & Defense

A few words about the Aerospace Industry

The highly regulated Aerospace industry is driven by the highest levels of quality and reliability based on concerns for the safety of crew and passengers. Sustainable zero-defect quality is essential and costly. As passengers return to frequent travel schedules, and airlines upgrade their fleets, commercial aviation will grow substantially in the decade to come. Few industries have a greater visibility in demands for environmental and technical innovation within a landscape of safety and control.

Aerospace organizations rely on Kepner-Tregoe’s structured problem solving for addressing the critical challenges facing the industry. With a rich history dating back over 50 years, when KT helped bring Apollo XIII astronauts home safely, to modern-day high-tech aerospace programs, we help our clients in adapting to the most complex challenges. These range from major changes in government contractor requirements to the development of innovative high-tech products. Leading aerospace industry companies rely on KT to address complex issues and help maintain quality standards.

Space operations, government contractors, and other aircraft, engines and parts manufacturers have made the Kepner-Tregoe critical thinking skills a reliable toolset for resolving the most complex issues. The complexity of advanced avionics, new propulsion systems, and impending space travel has intensified the need for learning and using KT’s structured, reliable analytical troubleshooting methodologies with its ability to simplify data efficiently and effectively so that complex issues can be solved quickly.

To learn more about Kepner-Tregoe consulting and training in the Aerospace industry, contact Kepner-Tregoe.

Success Stories

Apollo XIII Challenge

"Houston, we’ve got a problem here…." The best use of Problem Analysis is the use that works best. This is especially true of the abbreviated application of the process. The seriousness of a problem does not necessarily determine the length or complexity of the analysis required to resolve it. Some extremely serious problems have been solved through abbreviated uses of the process. From early NASA missions through our work with NASA contractors and supporting companies developing cutting-edge technologies, this case study shows the value of systematic KT thinking—working under extreme pressure.

Results

On the ground at Houston, NASA engineers put Problem Analysis questioning to work immediately. They began to build a specification of the deviation from the information that came in answer to their questions and from data displayed on their monitoring equipment. “Rupture of the Number Two Cryogenic Oxygen Tank” explained the sudden loss of voltage and the subsequent loss of pressure. Actions were taken to conserve both oxygen and electricity. The three astronauts returned successfully to Earth but only by the narrowest of margins.

Challenge

For a global logistics company, cargo plane safety is imperative. What was the cause and who was to blame for a recurring maintenance issue—contract maintenance crews or the airplane manufacturer? KT troubleshooting provides the answer.

Results

KT's analytic problem-solving approach quickly resolved a costly, ongoing problem, eliminating the complaints of spongy brakes, and restoring confidence in contract maintenance crews.

Insights

KT’s rational process, including Analytic Troubleshooting, helped BAE Electronic Solutions to improve productivity and morale. It also resulted in long-term productivity increase and substantial savings.

In the last few years, asset-heavy organizations are shifting from reactive maintenance to predictive maintenance (prevent and eliminate unplanned failures) as part of an Asset Performance Management (APM) strategy. The journey to mature APM success must include the people side of your organization—with a framework that encourages collaboration between departments, use of critical thinking and problem- solving skills, and aligned efforts across the organization—resulting in smarter decisions, lower maintenance costs and higher asset reliability.

In the aerospace industry, Fokker is a valued strategic specialist in the design, development and supply of lightweight structures, modules and landing gear.

Fokker Aerostructures, whose components are in Airbus and Boeing, offers lessons to any industry on quality improvement, change management and teamwork

Testimonials

Our Experts
in Aerospace & Defense Industry

Gijs Verrest
Senior Consultant
Europe
George Ng
Regional Managing Director - Asia Pacific
Asia
Masahiro Fushida
Business Solutions Consultant
Japan

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