Our industrial organization gears up for the future
Our production facilities are constantly upgraded to maintain world-class quality and competitiveness, through solutions such as digital innovation, specialized plants and an international footprint, particularly in India.
Made in India
The contract for 36 Rafales has led to a significant strengthening of our 65-year relationship with India, based on the transfer of costs and technologies linked to the search for sustainable gains in competitiveness.
In early 2019, our Nagpur plant, located in the state of Maharashtra, delivered the first Falcon 2000 front cockpit sections, meeting the highest quality standards. The production ramp-up, planned over a five year period, has resulted in the construction of a second 12,500-m² production facility delivered in 2019.
The first Indian workers and managers have been trained by our teams, while general aeronautical training is being developed in cooperation with local engineering schools and the technical training sector.
Gateway to India
The growth of our business has resulted in a number of partnerships with local companies. Our supply chain is also expanding to include new suppliers. Ranging from large industrial operators to SMEs, the French aeronautical ecosystem involved in the Rafale program now includes 25 production facilities and 20 joint ventures in India. Activities include design, production and support.
Streamlined production system
We are continuing the process of further integrating and specializing our production system in a series of strategic areas: metal products, composites, flat products, etc. This drive for synergy is reflected in the announcement of plans to build a new plant in Cergy-Pontoise, as well as in the construction of new buildings in Mérignac, Martignas and Biarritz.
Fresh synergies
The changes we are making to our facilities are designed to foster a more collaborative approach. Our design teams work even more closely with our customers and take a more holistic view of the entire aircraft lifecycle. For instance, the design office integrates production and support requirements at a very early stage, in accordance with Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).
The process of deploying a dedicated information system across all our plants began in Seclin in 2019. It will improve our industrial performance and the responsiveness of our supply chain.
Industrial ecosystem
We are at the center of an industrial network that has gradually developed over the decades, one that shares knowledge and methods, along with proven design and production tools. In January 2019, we officially renewed our support for defense SMEs, following on from an agreement signed with the French Ministry of the Armed Forces in 2014. Aéroprint bears witness to these relationships: this agreement to support the development of additive manufacturing involves the creation of a collaborative platform in Argonay.