PowerJet, which manufactures engines for the Sukhoi Superjet, is facing
headwinds in its production ramp-up as it battles against Airbus and
Boeing to secure supply chain slots.
The SaM146-powered SSJ100 entered service just over a year ago and 11 aircraft have now been delivered. However, as more SSJs come off the production line, PowerJet is facing what it describes as a “huge challenge.”
“We are facing difficulties with the supply chain. We need to fight every day [against Airbus and Boeing] to get priority,” PowerJet CEO Jacques Desclaux said, speaking at the ERA General Assembly in Dublin.
Desclaux explains that when Airbus and Boeing order 500-1,000 components, PowerJet struggles to secure slots for 100-500 parts. “It really is a challenge. There are not a lot of certified suppliers, so the choice is quite limited. The only thing we can do is to anticipate and place orders which are larger than we need,” he said.
Year-to-date, PowerJet has already doubled its production rates compared to the whole of 2011. This month it will deliver five propulsion systems to Sukhoi and will maintain this rate until year end. In 2013, this will be increased to eight per month, growing again to 10 per month in 2014.
To support this drive, it is stepping up its engine core assembly rates. This process takes 19.5 days, compared to 30 days last year, but this will be slimmed to 15 days by December and 12 days by the end of 2013.
Likewise, final engine assembly and testing will be narrowed from 12 days to 10 days by the end of 2013. Last year this process took 20 days or more.
Desclaux said this ramp-up should enable PowerJet to meet demand for 96 engine deliveries in 2013.
The SaM146-powered SSJ100 entered service just over a year ago and 11 aircraft have now been delivered. However, as more SSJs come off the production line, PowerJet is facing what it describes as a “huge challenge.”
“We are facing difficulties with the supply chain. We need to fight every day [against Airbus and Boeing] to get priority,” PowerJet CEO Jacques Desclaux said, speaking at the ERA General Assembly in Dublin.
Desclaux explains that when Airbus and Boeing order 500-1,000 components, PowerJet struggles to secure slots for 100-500 parts. “It really is a challenge. There are not a lot of certified suppliers, so the choice is quite limited. The only thing we can do is to anticipate and place orders which are larger than we need,” he said.
Year-to-date, PowerJet has already doubled its production rates compared to the whole of 2011. This month it will deliver five propulsion systems to Sukhoi and will maintain this rate until year end. In 2013, this will be increased to eight per month, growing again to 10 per month in 2014.
To support this drive, it is stepping up its engine core assembly rates. This process takes 19.5 days, compared to 30 days last year, but this will be slimmed to 15 days by December and 12 days by the end of 2013.
Likewise, final engine assembly and testing will be narrowed from 12 days to 10 days by the end of 2013. Last year this process took 20 days or more.
Desclaux said this ramp-up should enable PowerJet to meet demand for 96 engine deliveries in 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment