Our industry is thriving but faces intense global competition. A robust supply chain is key to securing our collective edge in the face of an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment.
Aero Excellence™ is an important new tool for organisations to improve their competitiveness, maintaining our strong international presence and strengthening the UK’s position on the global stage.
David Lockwood, ADS President and CEO of Babcock International Group said of the launch at Farnborough Airshow 2024:
“I am delighted that Aero Excellence™ will be coming to the UK. A united set of standards that has the support of both customers and suppliers in multiple countries will turbocharge efficiency and support supplier improvement activities for our businesses”.
This was reinforced when British, German and French aerospace trade associations signed the creation of Aero Excellence International association at Aviation Forum in Munich in November 2024. The initiative is designed to improve supply chain resilience through a new and universal standard of operational excellence for the aerospace, defence and space community. You can read the press release here.
Aero Excellence™ – a route to global excellence
Aero Excellence™ is an initiative aimed at fostering operational excellence within the aerospace and defence sectors by enhancing operational, environmental, and cybersecurity standards. It was launched in June 2023 at Paris Air Show by French aerospace trade association, GIFAS. Leading customers for the programme are Airbus, Safran, Thales, Dassault and MBDA.
Through a structured four-step assessment process, companies can self-diagnose their maturity levels and develop targeted roadmaps for improvement. This process encourages ongoing development and adaptation, ensuring that companies remain competitive and resilient against future challenges.
Find out more about Aero Excellence™ on this launch video.
The benefits of participating include heightened operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and cybersecurity robustness, all of which are validated and recognised by leading customers.
It covers all operational activities from industrialisation to repair processes.
The initiative began in France in January 2024 and is being extended into Germany with BDLI, the German Aerospace Industries Association and ADS will launch it into the UK supply chain in early 2025 through the Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) Framework.
Aero Excellence™ access within the SCS Framework
The Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) Framework provides a comprehensive set of services and programmes to support all companies in their development needs.
SC21 is the cornerstone of the SCS Framework, and Aero Excellence™, being closely aligned in driving enhancements in performance, will sit alongside SC21 as an additional programme within the Competitivenss pillar.
By adopting SC21, organisations improve supply chain performance and reduce lead times through structured, industry-recognised practices. Aero Excellence™ compliments this by focusing on operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and cyber security.
Together, they create a robust framework for consistent improvement, enabling companies to meet stringent industry standards, enhance their competitiveness, and foster innovation in a rapidly evolving market.
Read our full transcript of the launch at Farnborough International Airshow of Aero Excellence™ and how it relates to SC21 here.
We will be providing further updates on implementation of Aero Excellence™ in future months and we invite you to express your interest by emailing the team: scs@adsgroup.org.uk.