Accelerating Aerospace Digital Transformation: A Roadmap To Maturity
Accelerating Aerospace Digital Transformation: A Roadmap to Maturity
The aerospace and defense (A&D) industry is on the cusp of a digital revolution. As demand for more innovative and complex products increases, companies must accelerate their digital transformation efforts to remain competitive. However, despite significant investments, many aerospace companies are struggling to see the expected return on investment (ROI). In this article, we will explore the concept of digital transformation maturity, drawing insights from Siemens' "Five Levels of Digital Transformation Maturity" roadmap. We will also examine the results of a Siemens-sponsored survey across the Aviation Week network to understand where companies are in their digital transformation journey.
Understanding Aerospace Digital Transformation Maturity
Digital transformation maturity refers to how extensively a company has integrated digital processes across its operations. The goal is to move beyond simply digitizing existing workflows to fundamentally transforming how a company operates and delivers value. Siemens' five-step framework provides a roadmap for aerospace companies to assess their progress and take the next steps on their digital transformation journey.
The Five Levels of Digital Transformation Maturity
- Configure: Transition from document-based workflows to model-based systems, ensuring all relevant information is centrally stored and easily accessible throughout the product lifecycle.
- Connect: Bridge data across multiple domains, creating a single source of truth for the entire product lifecycle.
- Automate: Free engineers and workers from tedious, repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on more valuable and creative aspects of their roles.
- Generate: Leverage advanced technologies like generative design to explore multiple design alternatives based on predefined parameters.
- Optimize: Utilize the comprehensive digital twin and other advanced tools to refine and perfect designs.
The State of Digital Transformation in Aerospace
According to the Siemens-sponsored survey, many aerospace companies are currently in the connect phase, where digital tools are in place but not yet fully optimized. To unlock the full benefits of digital transformation, companies must continue progressing through the next stages.
Automation: The Key to Unlocking Digital Transformation
Automation is the third phase and lies at the core of digital transformation. By automating mundane tasks, companies can free engineers and workers to focus on more valuable and creative aspects of their roles. Siemens already has customers using rules-based algorithms to auto-generate wiring diagrams and other electrical support material, saving thousands of hours per aircraft.
Generating New Possibilities
In the generate phase, companies can leverage advanced technologies like generative design to explore multiple design alternatives based on predefined parameters. This approach is not limited to product design but extends to the development of factories and manufacturing processes as well.
Optimizing Designs with Digital Twins
The optimize phase involves utilizing the comprehensive digital twin and other advanced tools to refine and perfect designs. By evaluating multiple alternatives against KPIs and using simulations to predict how a product will perform before it is physically built, companies can reduce production costs, shorten time to market, and minimize the risk of costly errors.
Conclusion
Digital transformation is no longer a choice for aerospace companies; it's a necessity. By understanding the five levels of digital transformation maturity and assessing their current state, companies can take the next steps on their digital transformation journey. By automating mundane tasks, generating new possibilities, and optimizing designs with digital twins, aerospace companies can unlock the full benefits of digital transformation and remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry.
Learn more about Digital Transformation Maturity in A&D
