While the Aerospace and Defence sector shines throughout, there is a need to focus on the players that have facilitated the industry with research and innovation and have found their purpose in contributing to the tech that will shape the future of aviation. The solutions industry has enabled the sector to grow and create efficient products that are sustainable and goal oriented. Based on this, Shobha Kulavil, Vice President and Industry Platform Leader for Aerospace and Defence, Capgemini discuss with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World on how to create solutions rooted in sustainability which are need of the hour.Excerpts…
What are some of the technology trends emerging in the aerospace sector?
Aerospace and Defence Industry has witnessed the fastest and most unexpected spring back from the pandemic. There is a mounting orderbook both in Commercial and Defence Sector which means the ramp-up in the industry will need to be approximately 2X. The industry has always been an early adopter of Digital Technologies. The steep Ramp-up in the industry makes it even more imperative to ensure the industry is a completely digitally empowered and digitally ready here and now. Aerospace and Defence OEMs are also focussing on enhanced and smart products by new and connected technology adoption in communication, navigation, surveillance and many more domains of product play. Continual improvements in fuel efficiency blended with the need to reduce carbon footprint and achieve the net zero vision is driving the path to Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Hybrid Propulsion systems.
How modern technologies such as AI/ML, Manufacturing 4.0, IoT, AR/VR are benefiting the industry players fit into the digital era and supporting in driving the next phase of growth?
The propelled growth in the Aerospace &Defence industry also comes with challenge of acute skill shortage and talent depletion across the value stream especially in the manufacturing and MRO segment.New-age technologies and processes such as cybersecurity, robotics and automation, 3D printing, new manufacturing techniques, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, alternative fuels and energy sources, new aircraft designs, alternative modes of rapid transit, and geospatial technology will be prominent in the future of the aerospace sector.
By leveraging the potential of manufacturing 4.0 technologies, industry players can benefit from cost effectiveness and provide real value. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are slowly integrating such techs in their factories to build smart factories through real-time intelligence. This is enabling them to make more informed decisions about product design, performance, and value in the marketplace. By leveraging data aggregation technologies with predictive analytics, cognitive, and machine-learning capabilities, they are improving forecasting accuracy and predictive maintenance. The IoT allows collecting large volumes of data and is applied not only by manufacturers but airliners to optimize and enhance the processes. IoT is used to send critical data from engines, wing flaps, bleed valves, and landing gear to technicians for preventive maintenance. With huge amounts of data being generated by IoT, it becomes imperative to analyze these with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) and other cognitive systems for predictive maintenance, higher performance and greener operations.
Modern technologies like additive manufacturing play a critical role in obtaining certain complex parts for aircraft by traditional production processes, especially in low volume, minimum time, and lesser weight efficiently.
Understanding the sector’s focus on sustainability driven innovation, how do you think aviation players are contributing to this and additionally undertaking steps to achieve their sustainability goals?
The responsibility of reducing the carbon footprint has always been specifically very huge on the A&D industry. OEMs and airlines are doing everything they can to reduce both fuel burn and carbon emissions and carving the path towards becoming carbon neutral progressively overtime.The move toward Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Hybrid propulsion are some of the steps in this direction. Additionally building the Sustainable Innovation goal, vision and roadmap towards becoming Carbon neutral over time and cascading it proactively across the organisation and the ecosystem of suppliers and partners will enable the entire ecosystem to start incorporating sustainability and innovation at a concept and foundation level in the entire system ensuring that Sustainable Innovation gets ingrained as a culture and way of life for the future.
What does the future outlook seem like for aerospace capabilities for India?
India has been the global delivery hub for design and engineering talent for the A&D industry for more than two decades now. India has seen itself emerge from the status of a defence buyer and A&D Engineering and IT services hub to becoming the emerging Manufacturing and Supply Chain power house of the A&D map of the globe. Today in-house and global A&D players are investing in Manufacturing, ER&D, Digital and Physical Systems build and integration capabilities in the country both for the commercial and defence sector. The offset obligations and indigenisation drive has further encouraged and propelled growth from a technology,manufacturing and supply chain perspective. India’s buying power in Commercial and Defence sector coupled with favourable investment policies and subsidies, skill and talent availability in the A&D sector and ever-growing start-up sector is converging extremely well to position India as one of the fastest growing A&D zones of the globe. India is also becoming a desired emerging destination for MRO and After Market Services. This is still an emerging sector and will be a longer journey when compared to the growth of ERD and Manufacturing.
What are the sustainability opportunities do you foresee in the aerospace and defence industry and what is Capgemini doing to decarbonize the aerospace sector?
Capgemini’s Aerospace and Defence portfolio of services and solutions for our customers is very aptly envisioned and designed to address the priorities of our customers. We have been working with Aerospace and Defence customers across the globe to blueprint, deploy, sustain and continuously improvise Operations not only within the enterprise also across the entire interfacing ecosystem through our Nextgen A&D Supply Chain Digital and Intelligent Manufacturing Solution Framework for data empowered decision making, transparent and efficient operations. We help customers design and deploy a system that harmonises their Process, Methods, and Tools collaboratively and seamlessly through our Digital Continuity Solution power pack.
Building smart product requires a perfect blend of understanding the A&D industry across the length and breadth of Lifecycle, of the product and value chain , selectively introducing the right technology and building the customised digital framework by empathising with challenges and phased needs of the industry, Capgemini by virtue of its long term presence in the A&D Industry bringing in the deep industry experience, a strong engineering DNA and technology leadership has been enabling design and build smart, sustainable and innovative products for our customers.We have Sustainability and Innovation as ingrained as a culture into our system making it a very value driven and enriched experience for our customers to partner with Capgemini on their very important journey.
