Organizing aircraft design

The design of a series aircraft is based on that of a predecessor: a prototype or another series aircraft. This article describes a scientific case study of how a design team can design a series aircraft more effectively.

Sector: Private

Industry: Manufacturing

Domain: Series aircraft

Current situation

Context. Competition with other aircraft manufacturers.

Way of working. A team of designers is tasked to design an extended version of an aircraft. The team consists of senior designers and junior designers. When confronted with new design issues, junior designers tend to invent new solutions, whereas senior designers tend to focus on solutions that secure aircraft certification.

Position. Less access to the capabilities of senior designers results in a lower chance of timely aircraft certification. The latter is a requirement for an aircraft to be allowed onto the market.

Ambition

Challenge. Smarter innovation.
Objective. Maximize access to innovation capabilities of senior designers.
Indicator. Time to market.

Capability

Function. Draft a design | Create a design strategy.
Content. Propose and revise to design an extended version of an aircraft:

1. Define problem P to be solved for the extended version of aircraft A.
2. Assess to which extent the solution for aircraft A solves problem P.
3. Modify the solution for aircraft A such that it solves problem P.

Influence. Maximize access to innovation capabilities of senior designers: positive.
Kind. Strategy.
Nature. Knowledge.
Market position. Unused advantage.
Contribution. Organization strategy, Regulatory.
Priority. Now.
Action. Document and share with design team members.