The recovery context in aerospace: unprecedented challenges

According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air traffic not only returned to its pre-crisis levels but even exceeded them in 2024. Indeed, total traffic for 2024, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), rose by 10.4% compared to 2023, representing a 3.8% increase over the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. (source: iata.org). This positive momentum is pushing manufacturers to revise their production targets upward, thereby creating an urgent need for high-performing tools such as scheduling software for aerospace.

The aerospace supply chain, particularly complex and fragmented, is today under pressure. Tier-1, tier-2, and tier-3 suppliers must adapt quickly to meet the new production imperatives. In this context, a reliable aerospace scheduling software becomes a precious ally for planning operations effectively and anticipating potential bottlenecks.

The production ramp-up at Airbus: a challenge for the entire supply chain

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbus has experienced significant variations in its commercial-aircraft orders. Here is an overview of the net orders recorded by Airbus from 2020 to 2024:

These figures show a notable increase in orders in 2023, followed by a decline in 2024.

Airbus, the world leader in aerospace, has announced ambitious ramp-up targets for the coming years. The European manufacturer plans to reach a monthly production of 75 aircraft in the A320 family by 2026, compared with around 45 currently [2]. This spectacular 67% increase represents a colossal challenge that requires perfect synchronization of the entire value chain, made possible thanks to advanced aerospace scheduling solutions.

In June 2024, however, Airbus acknowledged that this ramp-up was falling behind because of the difficulties encountered by certain suppliers [3]. This situation perfectly illustrates the crucial importance of a high-performing aerospace scheduling software for identifying risks and readjusting production plans in real time.

Airbus vs. Boeing: a competition that intensifies scheduling needs

The historic rivalry between Airbus and Boeing continues to influence the sector's industrial strategies. While Airbus delivered 735 aircraft in 2023, surpassing Boeing and its 528 aircraft [4], this fierce competition pushes both giants to constantly optimize their production processes. Aerospace scheduling software plays a decisive role in this quest for operational excellence.

Boeing, which must simultaneously manage its recovery following the 737 MAX crises and the pandemic, faces considerable challenges in production scheduling. The American company is actively working to modernize its planning tools, recognizing the crucial importance of a high-performing aerospace scheduling software for its turnaround.

Impact on suppliers: the need to increase capacity

The ramp-up of the major manufacturers has cascading repercussions across the entire aerospace ecosystem. Suppliers must imperatively increase their production capacities to meet this growing demand. According to the GIFAS (the French Aerospace and Space Industries Group), aerospace subcontractors plan to invest massively in their industrial capacities, with an envelope estimated at several billion euros over the next three years.

In this context, adopting a high-performing aerospace scheduling software is becoming a strategic priority for the SMEs and mid-caps in the sector. These tools make it possible to optimize the use of existing resources while effectively planning the necessary capacity increases.

The major challenges of the ramp-up

Recruitment and training: a human challenge

The aerospace sector faces a major challenge in terms of human resources. According to GIFAS estimates, the French aerospace industry will need to recruit about 25,000 people a year until 2030 to support the ramp-up [6].

The integration and training of new talent is also a sizable challenge. Companies must organize learning paths effectively while maintaining productivity. An aerospace scheduling software makes it possible to optimize these processes by accounting for learning curves and the availability constraints of trainers.

Equipment investments: planning to optimize

To increase their production capacities, the players in the aerospace industry must make significant investments in industrial equipment. These strategic decisions require a fine analysis of future needs and rigorous planning of the deployments.

Here again, advanced scheduling solutions specific to aerospace make it possible to simulate different investment scenarios and assess their impact on production capacity. This predictive approach helps companies secure their investment decisions and plan their implementation optimally.

Cash-flow issues: financial balance in question

The ramp-up generates significant pressure on companies' cash flow, particularly for the SMEs and mid-caps in the supply chain. Investments in machines, recruitment, and stock come well before the financial returns of the production increases.

A high-performing aerospace scheduling software directly contributes to managing this issue by optimizing the working-capital requirement. By refining the planning of supplies and production, these tools make it possible to reduce stock while guaranteeing the availability of the necessary resources. Some sources estimate that optimizing scheduling could reduce the working-capital requirement in the aerospace industry by up to 30%.

How a scheduling software meets the challenges of aerospace

Visibility and anticipation: the keys to success

In an environment as demanding as aerospace, the ability to anticipate problems before they occur is a major competitive advantage. Modern scheduling software incorporates advanced predictive-analytics features that make it possible to identify potential risks.

These solutions offer unprecedented visibility across the entire production chain, from supplies to the delivery of finished products. This transparency allows managers to make informed decisions and allocate resources optimally.

Optimizing critical resources

One of the main advantages of a scheduling software specific to aerospace lies in its ability to optimize the use of critical resources. Whether CNC machines, assembly stations, or specific skills, these tools make it possible to maximize utilization rates while respecting the technical and regulatory constraints.

Simulating different scheduling scenarios makes it possible to identify the optimal configuration and quickly adapt the production plans according to disruptions. This agility is a major competitive advantage in a context of strong growth.

Traceability and regulatory compliance

The aerospace sector is subject to particularly strict regulatory requirements. The full traceability of operations and components is an unavoidable obligation that considerably complicates production management.

Aerospace scheduling software natively incorporates these traceability constraints and guarantees the compliance of processes with the standards in force (EN 9100, NADCAP, etc.). This native integration considerably simplifies audits and certifications while securing day-to-day operations.

The Oplit solution: a scheduling software specifically designed for aerospace

Faced with the specific challenges of the aerospace sector, Oplit has developed a scheduling solution perfectly suited to the industry's stakes. This aerospace scheduling software stands out through its ability to faithfully model the sector's specific constraints while offering maximum flexibility.

The Oplit solution stands out in particular through its advanced simulation features, which make it possible to assess the impact of investment or recruitment decisions on production capacity. This predictive approach is a major asset for securing the ramp-up [8].

Recognized by GIFAS as a reference player in the digital transformation of the aerospace industry, Oplit supports many companies in the sector in optimizing their production processes [9].

Case study: improving industrial performance thanks to an aerospace scheduling software

A company specialized in precision machining for aerospace recently deployed our advanced planning and scheduling solution to support its growth. Faced with a production ramp-up and the imperative of meeting deadlines, optimizing the production processes became a strategic priority.

Thanks to the implementation of Oplit, the company was able to:

• Increase its service level by up to 20%, ensuring better customer satisfaction.

• Optimize its production lead time, enabling a significant reduction in delays.

• Improve the reliability of its delivery commitments, by strengthening visibility across the entire production chain.

• Efficiently allocate Man x Machine resources, thanks to a real-time projection of the load-capacity balance.

• Anticipate the unexpected and adjust schedules according to real needs thanks to increased visibility into stock and work-in-progress.

These results demonstrate the concrete impact of a high-performing scheduling software in a demanding industrial environment, where mastering deadlines and responsiveness are major issues.

Conclusion

In a context of recovery and accelerated growth in the aerospace sector, scheduling software constitutes an essential strategic lever. These solutions make it possible to effectively orchestrate the ramp-up while managing the associated risks.

The major challenges of recruitment, investment, and cash flow facing the sector's companies require high-performing planning tools specifically suited to the constraints of aerospace. A scheduling solution specific to the needs of aerospace thus establishes itself as a precious ally for navigating this period of transformation.

To remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market, aerospace companies must imperatively modernize their planning and scheduling tools. This digital transformation, far from being a mere IT project, is an essential strategic step to secure growth and guarantee the longevity of the business.