Context and Challenges

The subcontracting industry dedicated to manufacturing—whether of metal or composite components—faces the same common limitation, namely, either inefficient, very short-term management—where production planners have little room to maneuver—or the inexperience of staff when it comes to coordinating complex assembly operations, whether due to errors in selecting the components that make up those assemblies, identification failures, or issues directly related to the assembly process itself.

The aim of this project is to propose a software platform, IMAGINA, which assists—through recommendations—in making critical decisions that affect Work in Progress (WIP). To this end, this project proposes two characteristic use cases, where the goal is to demonstrate the platform’s capabilities by conceptually addressing the two needs described above, measuring that capability through specific indicators or KPIs.

Proposal

The general objectives of the project are:

• Real-time monitoring of the location of assets involved in aerospace manufacturing processes.
• Optimization of Work in Progress (WIP) and internal logistics in aerospace component manufacturing processes.
• To increase environmental sustainability in the manufacturing processes of metal products by reducing the carbon footprint and efficiently managing materials.

The specific objectives are:

• To deploy a distributed production management platform based on IIoT concepts.
• To design a robust indoor positioning system with minimal signal shielding.
• The development of an artificial intelligence-based decision-support system for production planning.
• The monitoring of auxiliary materials to enable efficient management.
• The design and development of a model of the processes carried out within manufacturing SMEs.

The IMAGINA project has been funded by the CDTI through the call for proposals under the 2023 Aeronautical Technology Program, with co-funding from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (Next Generation EU) and the 2021–2023 State Program to Catalyze Innovation and Business Leadership. File number: PTAP-20231004.

At Skylife Engineering, we lead projects thanks to our extensive experience in integrating advanced technologies and our strong commitment to sustainability in aviation. We work closely with each project manager, applying a rigorous process of review and continuous improvement. This approach ensures solutions of the highest quality—safe and effective—that generate a real and lasting impact on the industry.