Overall, the year has been challenging for the civil aircraft industry. Let’s have a quick look at what happened for the major players: Boeing 2019 has been a troubling year for the aircraft manufacturer Boeing. First of all, after the two crashes with the 737 Max, most authorities including the FAA suspended the airworthiness certificate … Continue reading The aircraft year in review
Just yesterday, some early results of a US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) project have been published. The idea of project was to create a low-cost, expendable engine by separating the development from the production/procurement costs. So what does this mean in particular? Rethink innovation The development of a new engine, especially when it comes … Continue reading Creating open source jet-engines
Last week, DB informed that they are taking 3D printing into the syllabus of its vocational training and have started to print 3D spare parts for its ICE series of trains. The objective is to make around 10,000 different spare parts available via 3D printing by 2021. Why it matters: Looking at classic obsolescence topics … Continue reading DB starts printing 3D metal spare parts
This summer, GKN Aerospace announced that they are researching the case of an optimized carbon reinforced wing for a next Airbus single aisle, narrow body aircraft under the "wing of tomorrow" program. Why it matters: The next topic in aviation after a new engine option for the 777 and the A350 is definitely a new … Continue reading Composite wings for the next narrow body aircraft?
This Monday, Skoda announced that they are integrating Lokel into a new Skoda Digital subsidiary. This newly formed group with around 70 employees will be responsible for their TCMS, diagnostic systems and multimedia systems. Why it matters: Skoda transitions with this strategic move from a "classic" small OEM in the rolling stock industry being a … Continue reading Skoda going more digital
When I recently read that NJ Transit is signing the contract to purchase new double-deck EMUs, I was positively surprised. Not only did they manage to purchase an electric multiple unit (EMU) which is much more suitable for commuter and regional transport, but they also went for a double-deck configuration permitting more capacity at the … Continue reading Why the US never manages to purchase modern rolling stock
Last week, the ORR published some intermediate results from their market study in automatic ticket gates (ATG) and ticket vending machines (TVM). It surprised me not much that in the UK the situation from a demand-monopoly switched almost fully to a supply-monopoly where with designed market entry barriers the competition could have been kept at … Continue reading The UK liberal market approach on fair collection seems to have failed
In transportation, there seems to be a saying that we all have to better understand the customer with big data applications. Before this year's Innotrans, many new companies are popping up that want to do a railway ticket purchasing or transport ticket purchasing platform. What they are all seeking is the higher-order-value position - a … Continue reading The higher order value business service providers
After making mostly critical comments on the reports published by consulting companies, I have also to point out truly good articles. One of those is certainly the recent McKinsey article on Smart Cities in South East Asia. What we generally understand nowadays as a smart city is a connected city, where monitoring allows dynamic adapting … Continue reading What makes a smart city smart
Initially, when looking at any topic or field the fundamental question pops up: Build it yourself or buy it from a supplier in a market. This question is the only real strategic question when it comes to procurement. Other aspects, such as procurement strategy, have a much to do with strategy as a bunch of … Continue reading Procurement: Make or Buy
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