Ingenieur Vol 80 ingenieur 2019 octoberfinal | Page 17

Figure 1: Aircraft Development and In-Service Segments Engineering Services play an important role in supporting the value chain of the aircraft development lifecycle. At one end, it supports the aircraft prime manufacturer’s aircraft development (design, analysis, certifications and testing). In the middle segment, it supports aerospace manufacturing organisations including 1 st tier and 2 nd tier assemblers and component manufacturers. Finally, at the other end of the chain, engineering services support airline operators for their in-service modification and technical service requirements (as shown in Figure 1). Engineering Service organisations require a highly skilled engineering workforce which specialises in design and engineering software, manufacturing or maintenance equipment and tools. The Engineering Service organisation also needs to have a strong understanding of its customer’s short to medium term business requirements in order to provide the best value in their service.. Aerospace Engineering Services Segments The global market for aerospace Engineering Services Outsourcing (ESO) is quite substantial, estimated to be around USD40 billion in 2018 and the number is growing 1 . Of these, the manufacturing support services segment accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 30% in 2018 and is anticipated to have further significant growth over the next few years. Manufacturing support activities form a vital service to the aerospace industry, providing process engineering improvement activities, digital simulations, and tooling and fixture design services to 1 st and 2 nd tier assemblers and component manufacturers. The Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) engineering segment forms another major part of the engineering services component. Among the types of engineering services provided are design and certification services for major and minor structural modifications for large or small civilian aircraft. This also includes aircraft interiors and cabin modifications services. Service providers for this type of work require organisational approvals from the relevant national aviation authorities. In addition to engineering design, engineering services also include support for in-service activities like technical services (compliance, structural services, power plant, reliability and aircraft performance, etc.) and Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO). It is expected that this segment will most likely demonstrate larger growth in the future as more and more aircraft enter the operator market. Another important segment is the pure play Design and Engineering segment that provides services to the upstream segment of the aircraft lifecycle. This service segment provides design and engineering analysis of the aircraft’s structural components, systems and avionics components and can form part of the aircraft certification support activity. For aero structural components, stress analysis, fatigue and damage tolerance analysis, design engineering and project management are the types of work activity provided by an Engineering Service organisation. They generally offer either offshore work (doing 15