Quality critical to the regrowth of aerospace

Stephen Molloy, an IMechE Chartered Engineer, joined quality management expert G&P in September 2017 having held a number of international and senior positions in aerospace OEMs and aircraft systems providers, including Head of Aircraft Ice Protection at Airbus and Assistant Chief Engineer in Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace. He is a mechanical engineering graduate, with additional qualifications in business and project management.

He now leads the diversification growth at G&P into non-automotive industrial sectors.

How have you responded strategically to the Covid-19 crisis?

While aerospace is a core focus for G&P, our company has its roots in the automotive industry and serves other sectors. Our broad range of skill sets have allowed us to diversify further into other sectors, such as off-highway, household goods, marine and rail.

We have also adapted our working protocols, which have enabled us to continue offering high levels of service to aerospace customers throughout the pandemic. For example, although site visits are the most effective way to conduct quality inspections and supplier audits, we have been able to offer successful remote solutions involving online calls and desktop audits.

How will the pandemic impact the company longer-term?

The pandemic has further committed G&P to a long-term diversification strategy which is possible because many of our services – including supplier management and quality audits, inspection, containment and rework, finished product acceptance, measurement and scanning services – are transferable to multiple industries.

What are your key focuses at the moment?

We are now entering an ambitious growth phase, developing the breadth of sectors we serve and expanding the services we offer, while also demonstrating the value higher-skilled technicians and engineers add to manufacturing businesses.

We continue to invest in our people, our business and our processes to better serve our customers.

How are your preparing for an upturn in the aerospace market?

Even though some predict that the aerospace industry will recover rapidly when Covid-rates are under control internationally, not knowing when we will reach this point means businesses are reluctant to hire people.

However, being able to maintain quality while increasing production is critical to the future of aerospace businesses. Solution providers, such as G&P, offer highly-skilled, flexible resources that can be rapidly deployed, helping to ensure quality during this critical, regrowth phase.

We’ve prepared for the upturn by keeping as many people as possible employed throughout the pandemic so that our workforce remains strong and offers the flexibility aerospace customers need. We’ve also given people the opportunity to work in new sectors, enhancing their skills.

What do you believe will be critical for aerospace supply chain companies to remain competitive as the industry regrows?

In order for aerospace companies to be competitive during the regrowth phase and beyond, they need to be as efficient as possible while delivering on time as rates rise.
Whether it’s in-house, or with the support of solution providers such as G&P, it’s also imperative that aerospace companies maintain quality standards, helping them avoiding the financial and reputational costs associated with non-conformance while building long-lasting customer relationships that will be critical to winning future business.

What will be the aerospace industry’s priority as it recovers and regrows?

There is a growing focus on sustainability in aerospace, as in most manufacturing industries, bringing new challenges and opportunities, such as hybrid power plants, more electric aircraft and sustainable aviation fuels.

These environmental changes are already at the centre of the automotive sector, primarily through the rapid development and adoption of battery and electric vehicles. G&P’s established presence in the automotive sector means we have already developed relevant services and employee training programmes that are contributing to sustainability results, putting us in a strong position to serve the emerging environmental focuses of the aerospace industry. 

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