Manufacturing products used by the military require a high level of precision, reliability, and efficiency to avoid delays, cost overruns, or defects in the final product. That’s why, at Aerial Machine & Tool, we conduct ongoing engineering reviews to identify and address any manufacturing inefficiencies before the production process begins.
In this article, we take an in-depth look at what an engineering review is and the role it plays in manufacturing large volumes of high-quality products designed to keep the men and women of the Armed Forces safe.
What is an engineering review?
An engineering review is a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the manufacturing process designed to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement. The review typically involves a team of engineers and other experts, who work together to assess every aspect of the manufacturing process, from raw materials and equipment, to staffing and training. However, the process can also involve examining everything from the actual design of the product to the manufacturing equipment and the processes that are used across the organization.
Why is it so important?
Manufacturing inefficiencies can have a significant impact on production speed and product quality. Identifying and addressing these inefficiencies requires an ongoing thorough review. This can involve analyzing data on production times, defect rates, and other key performance indicators, as well as conducting on-site observations and interviews with employees. By identifying and addressing inefficiencies, manufacturers can reduce the amount of waste that is produced, lower energy consumption, and improve the overall efficiency of the production process.
By conducting consistent and ongoing engineering reviews, Aerial Machine & Tool has become a global leader in survivability and aerial delivery solutions that can withstand the most extreme environments.
Some of the ways that engineering reviews can help improve speed and quality include:
- Optimizing production workflows to eliminate bottlenecks and streamline the manufacturing process
- Upgrading equipment and machinery to improve efficiency and reduce downtime
- Improving the quality of raw materials through better sourcing and quality control processes
- Enhancing training and development programs to improve employee skills and reduce error rates
- Implementing quality control measures and monitoring systems to identify and address defects early in the production process
Engineering reviews also can help ensure that the final product meets the required specifications and standards. Military products must adhere to strict requirements in terms of quality, reliability, and performance. By conducting a thorough engineering review, manufacturers can identify any areas where the product may fall short and make the necessary changes to ensure that it meets or exceeds the required specifications. These types of reviews are essential for consistently producing the highest quality and most reliable products possible.
The role of Enterprise Resource Planning Software (ERP)
ERP software is a comprehensive system designed to provide manufacturers with increased visibility and control over their production and material processes. This software provides a range of features, including production and material visibility, scheduling optimization, and performance automation, all of which are designed to increase throughput and productivity.
One of the most significant benefits of using ERP software is the ability to gain complete visibility into your production and material processes because it provides real-time data and analytics that allow you to track your production progress, identify potential bottlenecks, and adjust your production processes as needed. This increased visibility ensures that the user is always up to date with production progress, allowing for informed decisions and timely action.
Another significant benefit of ERP software is the scheduling optimization feature. This feature enables you to optimize your production schedule to maximize efficiency and throughput. The software takes into account various factors such as production capacity, lead times, and resource availability to create an optimized schedule that minimizes downtime and maximizes productivity. This feature ensures that your production processes are always running at peak efficiency, leading to increased throughput, repeatability, and productivity.
Additionally, ERP software can provide performance automation features that automate various production processes, including data collection, scheduling, and quality control. Automation minimizes manual labor and reduces the potential for human error, leading to increased efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. This allows team members across an organization to focus on more strategic tasks, such as innovation and growth, while the software handles the routine tasks.
Engineering reviews and ERP systems are an important part of our operations
To meet the high-volume demand, Aerial leverages our manufacturing experience, infrastructure, technology, and our people. Our manufacturing operations are underpinned by Infor Visual manufacturing ERP software, which provides production and material visibility, scheduling optimization, and performance automation for increased throughput and productivity.
For more than two decades, Aerial has consistently invested in infrastructure and sophisticated ERP systems needed to deliver high-quality, high-speed, and high-precision material handling and assembly. Since that time, we’ve produced more than 55,000 U.S. Army Survival Gear Carriers and more than 65,000 associated and ancillary soft goods products. In fact, our manufacturing plants can produce an average of 3,800 high-precision, high-quality systems per month. And we conduct regular engineering reviews to ensure that our products are delivered on time, on budget, and according to your specifications – every time.
As a Small Business Administration licensed Small Business Investment Corporation-backed small business, we’re committed to material and workforce investments to meet delivery threshold and objective capacities. Our quality is unsurpassed. We are AS9100 certified in our Virginia facility, resulting in certification and proving our dedication and adherence to quality production throughout the Company.