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Springer Handbook of Automation pp 893–910Cite as

Aircraft Manufacturing and Assembly

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Abstract

Increasingly the manufacturing of complex products and component parts involves significant automation functions. This chapter describes a cross section of automated manufacturing systems used to fabricate, inspect, and assemble aircraft. Aircraft manufacturing cost reductions were made possible by development of advanced technologies and applied automation to produce high-quality products, make air transportation affordable, and improve the standard of living for people around the globe. Fabrication and assembly of a commercial aircraft involve a variety of detail part fabrication and assembly operations. Fuselage assembly involves riveting/fastening operations at five major assembly levels. The wing has three major levels of assembly. The propulsion systems, landing gear, interiors, and several other electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems are installed to complete the aircraft structurally and, after functional tests, it normally gets painted and goes to the flight ramp for final customer acceptance checks and delivery. Aircraft manufacturing techniques are well developed, fabrication and assembly processes follow a defined sequence, and process parameters for manual and mechanized/automated manufacturing are precisely controlled. Process steps are inspected and documented to meet the established Federal Aviation Administration quality requirements, ensuring reliable functions of components, structures, and systems, which result in dependable aircraft performance.

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Abbreviations

2-D:

two-dimensional

3-D:

three-dimensional

AFP:

automated fiber placement

AQ:

as-quenched

ATL:

automated tape layup

CNC:

computer numerical control

DB:

database

DOF:

degrees of freedom

DR:

digital radiography

FSW:

friction stir welding

FW:

framework

HP:

horsepower

IML:

inside mold line

IV:

intravenous

MIT:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT:

miles in-trail

MRR:

material removal rate

NDI:

nondestructive inspection

OML:

outside mold line

PE:

pulse echo

RPM:

revolutions per minute

SPC:

statistical process control

SPF:

super plastic forming

TTU:

through transmission ultrasound

UT:

ultrasonic testing

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Boeing Company – Phantom Works, 5301 Bolsa Avenue, 92647, Huntington Beach, CA, USA

    Branko Sarh Dr

  2. BCA – Materials & Process Technology, The Boeing Company, PO Box #3707, 98124, Seattle, WA, USA

    James Buttrick BSc

  3. Material & Process Technology, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 98124-3307, Seattle, WA, USA

    Clayton Munk

  4. The Boeing Company, PO Box 363, 98057, Renton, WA, USA

    Richard Bossi PhD

Authors
  1. Branko Sarh Dr
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  2. James Buttrick BSc
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  3. Clayton Munk
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  4. Richard Bossi PhD
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Branko Sarh Dr , James Buttrick BSc , Clayton Munk or Richard Bossi PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. PRISM Center, and School of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, 315 N. Grant Street, 47907, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Shimon Y. Nof

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Sarh, B., Buttrick, J., Munk, C., Bossi, R. (2009). Aircraft Manufacturing and Assembly. In: Nof, S. (eds) Springer Handbook of Automation. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78831-7_51

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78831-7_51

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-78830-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-78831-7

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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