Barnes Aerospace has arrived at the show with a clutch of announcements and is positive about the results of the lean manufacturing initiatives it launched two years ago.
The Connecticut-based component manufacturer has opened a new FAA/JAA-certified repair station in West Chester, Ohio, and launched a new manufacturing method - the Sutton Core Process - to produce parts without material weak points.
The station will specialise in overhauling jet engine honeycomb segments and shrouds for both commercial and military aircraft. It will allow Barnes to cut engine overhaul times, according to Patrick Dempsey, president of the company's Windsor Airmotive division. "This facility, combined with our FAA and JAA-certified repair stations in East Granby, Connecticut and Singapore, will help us meet our customers'demands for shorter engine overhaul times.
Benefits
The Sutton Core Process results in one-piece, hollow-core structures designed for applications on today's high-performance aircraft. Barnes claims the process offers greater strength-to-weight ratio and improved flexibility. Lean manufacturing initiatives at the company's Ogden, Utah, plant have increased productivity, reduced space requirements and cut manufacturing times, according to divisional president Robert Picard. "The largest effect has been the cultural change by employees, who have accepted lean concepts and are implementing them daily."
Source: Flight Daily News
