Aerospace and Digitalization: Adapting to a Changing Landscape

(Written with Pontus Westlin, Product Manager, Sandvik Coromant)

“It is not the strongest who will survive,” wrote Charles Darwin, “but those who can best manage change.” This insight is particularly relevant to the aerospace industry as it faces the challenges of digital transformation. To thrive, aerospace manufacturers must embrace digital integration, unlocking new opportunities for innovation and efficiency. However, this transformation comes with complex hurdles. Aerospace manufacturers are addressing these challenges with phased strategies, upskilling efforts, and advanced cybersecurity measures.

Recent research by PwC and Make UK highlights a significant gap: While most manufacturers recognize the value of digital technologies in boosting productivity, only 12.5% prioritize these technologies in their strategies. One major barrier is the high cost of investment associated with new technologies.

In the aerospace sector, technologies such as digital twins, 3D printing, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, advanced software, and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) can significantly enhance precision and efficiency. Despite these benefits, investing in such technologies introduces risks for aerospace manufacturers and their stakeholders.

The Center for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) explored these risks in its report, "Challenges of Digitalization in the Aerospace and Aviation Sectors." The CDBB, a partnership between the UK government’s Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the University of Cambridge, was established to investigate digitalization in manufacturing.

The report identifies several key challenges: ensuring data compatibility and security, adapting the workforce to digital changes, developing effective regulations, and balancing investment in new technologies while maintaining customer trust. At the core of these challenges is the effective management of the digital transformation process. According to the PwC and Make UK 2024 survey, manufacturers particularly struggle with integrating new systems with existing infrastructure and managing the extensive data from IoT sensors.

To overcome these hurdles, manufacturers need to implement comprehensive change management strategies. One effective approach is breaking down the digital transformation process into manageable phases. This phased approach allows companies to spread out costs and mitigate financial strain, making the transition more manageable and less overwhelming.

Change management practices are evolving to address resistance. Companies are increasingly focusing on transparent communication about the benefits of digital technologies and providing robust support to employees during the transition. Digital tool libraries play a crucial role in this process.

For aerospace component manufacturers, digital tool libraries can significantly reduce manual data entry and minimize errors from inconsistent data sources. By centralizing tool information, these libraries help maintain precision from the outset and prevent costly mistakes.

A Digital Suite

An example of a digital solution that streamlines tool data management is the cloud-based CoroPlus® Tool Library by Sandvik Coromant. This platform supports compliance with standards like ISO 13399, ensuring compatibility and reliability while mitigating the risks associated with digitalization.

In more complex manufacturing tasks, such as producing intricate aerospace components, advanced process automation solutions like CoroPlus® Connected with Silent Tools™ Plus offer substantial benefits. These technologies use real-time data to enhance operations, improving efficiency by monitoring key parameters such as height, temperature, and load. This real-time data helps reduce setup time and enhance operator control, leading to fewer errors and greater efficiency.

Accurate tool setup and monitoring are critical in minimizing downtime and resource wastage, particularly with high-value aerospace materials. Digital solutions that support safety, improve component integrity, and extend tool life contribute to higher productivity and optimized cycle times.

For a broader operational view, cloud-based systems like CoroPlus® Machining Insights offer detailed data on machine and tool performance. These platforms provide real-time and historical data, helping engineers identify areas for improvement and optimize processes, a task often challenging with manual data collection methods. They offer transparent operational oversight, improving production control and facilitating early issue detection.

These systems integrate easily into existing machine shops, providing scalability and flexibility for remote monitoring across multiple sites. This capability supports predictive maintenance, early troubleshooting, and overall enhanced efficiency in manufacturing operations.

The journey toward digital integration in aerospace manufacturing reflects Darwin’s insight: survival depends on managing change rather than sheer strength. Despite the financial, talent, and cultural challenges highlighted by the PwC report, the rewards for those who effectively navigate these hurdles are substantial. By learning from industry leaders like Sandvik Coromant, manufacturers can overcome these challenges and unlock unprecedented levels of efficiency and innovation.

As the aerospace sector evolves, embracing digital changes is not just about keeping up; it’s about leading a new era of manufacturing excellence. The future of aerospace is digital, and, to paraphrase Darwin, those who effectively manage this transformation will not only survive but thrive.

For more insights into how machine tool solutions can optimize costs and enhance efficiency, visit Sandvik Coromant’s website.

Sandvik Coromant 

Part of global industrial engineering group Sandvik, Sandvik Coromant is at the forefront of manufacturing tools, machining solutions and knowledge that drive industry standards and innovations demanded by the metalworking industry now and into the next industrial era. Educational support, extensive R&D investment and strong customer partnerships ensure the development of machining technologies that change, lead and drive the future of manufacturing. Sandvik Coromant owns over 1,700 patents worldwide, employs over 7,700 staff, and is represented in 150 countries. For more information visit www.sandvik.coromant.com or join the conversation on social media. 

For media inquiries:

Cynthia Candelas 

Integrated Marketing Specialist, Sandvik Coromant 

cynthia.candelas@sandvik.com