Manufacture certification

[Chiefxxx]

Hello,

I am hoping that someone is able to help with this question:

I am interested in moving into the aerospace sector, manufacturing advanced composites, could anyone help with regards to:

Which qualifications i would need in my factory?

which regulations I should look up?

what are the advantages and disadvantages of such an move? i.e, what insurance do i need what happens if what i make falls off a plane...


Any information or advice, in this directon would be most helpful..

Many thanks !

 

[SWComposites]

Lets start with a few questions:
- what experience do you have with manufacturing a) aerospace quality parts, b) composite parts?
- what type of composite parts do you want to manufacture?
- what type of fabrication processes do you want to use?
- parts for what type of aircraft/missile/spacecraft?
- parts for commercial or military products?
- who are the potential customer companies?
- where would the company be located?

 

[40818]

I would have to say that if you want to make money, then dont move into aerospace!!
Must be friday night.

Seriously though, it is a very competetive industry, depending upon the answers to SWComposites query then maybe a more specific response will be gleaned.
Manufacturing of Aerospace composites is more specialised then metallic. But your saving grace may be that if your interested in just manufacture, then if you pays your money into equipment, trained personnell and building a reputation then you could do it. If your interested in the design, analysis and manufacture then its a whole new ball-park.
What is your current business based in??

 

[Chiefxxx]

ok guys thanks for posting, but i did not want to be specific about my current business. as i just needed to know about the following:

Regulations?

insurance ?

to enable us to bid for work, we do not want to do primary structure or military, anything else we can handle with all processes.

Not interested in design, just manufacture. There appear to be little advantage because 40818 does not sound like its good idea. Is it the cost to get set up? or do not make much on this type of work?

thanks

 

[40818]

Cheifxxx

When you start involving design and analysis , you take it upon yourself to "own" the part because you have proved it to the customer that is is fit for purpose. If you just manuacture a part for a company, they own the part and you just make it for them. I hope you can see the difference.

The major OEMs spread jobs as a riskshare mechanism, where smaller companies (as a tier type system) put themselves at risk to spread the initial cost to recoup more.

If you can make a part better and cheaper, or either of sometimes, then you can make a business profit, you need to know exactly what you intend to get yourself into before spending the money. I would recommend you talk to the businesses that you wish to join as competition to.
Might sound strange, but it would be good for you to help learn from there mistakes

 

[SWComposites]

You will need to qualify to the fabrication process spec's for the OEMs for which you will build parts. Can be difficult depending on the OEM, part type, and process.

If you are building commercial aircraft parts, there are FAA advisory circulars related to material and part quality; you can download them from the FAA web site. EASA in Europe probably has similar guidance documents.

As for insurance, you probably should consult a lawyer who has experience with the aerospace industry.

 

[Chiefxxx]

Thanks guys,

Any idea which FAA or JAR regs I should look at ?

 

[737eng]

For aircraft (I am familiar with Transport category operating under 121 or equivalent) There is two key things: 1)Design approval and 2)Production approval. Both will require in-house manufacturing and quality procedures and policies.
Two orders that come to mind are FAA order 8110.4C and 8110.42B