Conceptual Aircraft Design

20Aircraft Manufacturing Considerations

20.1 Overview

Cost analysis and manufacturing technology are subjects on their own requiring specialised sessions in academies. These are not the main topic of this book but are included to make readers aware that the mere classical aeronautical subjects of aerodynamics, structures and propulsion are not sufficient considerations for a successful aircraft design. Cost analysis and manufacturing technology needs to be brought into consideration during the conceptual study integrated with the classical aeronautical subjects. The following terms will be used in this chapter quite extensively. Some of them were referred to earlier.

• DBT – Design Built Team. This is a team of hand‐picked experienced engineers/specialists drawn from various related disciplines who synthesise designs for Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFM/A) considerations in multi‐disciplinary interactions with the classical subjects.
• DFM/A – Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFM/A). This is an engineering approach with the objective to minimise cost of production without sacrificing design integrity.
• IPPD – Integrated Product and Process Development (also known as concurrent engineering). This offers an environment in which DBT uses IPPD to synthesise the trade‐off studies in a multi‐disciplinary study to arrive at the best value for the product as a global optimum rather than optimising to a particular design study. DFM/A is a part of IPPD.
• DFSS – Design for Six‐Sigma ...