Understanding cost drivers within an aerospace manufacturing supply chain for fibre reinforced plastic structures

A production cost mark-up factor has been identified. as the greatest contributor toward material price, owing to its recurring manifestation at each tier interface. Dominant production costs at discrete supply chain tiers have been shown to develop from raw process materials, through energy dominant production techniques, finally resulting in large labour commitments for material handling and equipment preservation. The methodology investigates two non-deterministic aspects of production simulation; cost drivers changing with time and production processes changing with technology.

This research has identified the cost drivers associated with composite component production are resultant from a multi-tier production supply chain, introducing non-value added costs at each ~tier interface. Through an analytical modelling method, the understanding of material production costs is encouraged, which may prompt a shift in composite material procurement strategies. The model has demonstrated that with ever increasing material production costs, product ion technology can provide a quantifiable reduction in component weight and composite material cost.