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Boeing working with the University of Sheffield AMRC

11 Jun '18

3 min read

Courtesy: AMRC

Boeing is working with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to built a research facility Boeing Sheffield. The facility is the first to be built in Europe for Boeing, which chose Sheffield based on its longstanding partnership with the AMRC, its skilled workforce and investment in research, training and development.

The research and development programme aerospace giant Boeing has embarked upon with the assistance of the AMRC is developing the new manufacturing techniques that will enhance production efficiency and reduce costs whilst maintaining quality. These game-changing technologies will be utilised in the production of actuation system components for Boeing’s next-generation 737, 737 MAX and 777 aeroplanes at Boeing Sheffield.

A visit of senior Boeing executives took place at AMRC, as general manager of Boeing Portland Dave Hyem and his team came to see the research and development work that will support operations at Boeing Sheffield.

Head of the AMRC Machining Group, Matt Farnsworth, said the visit was a great opportunity for the team to see the research and development programme in action and showcase its successes and goals for the next 18 months, in which the AMRC will continue to support Boeing Sheffield as the manufacturing processes are embedded and matured on site.

The visiting party saw demonstrations of the manufacturing processes and technologies being developed and met with some of the team that will make up the core of Boeing Sheffield’s staff, including some of the Boeing apprentices currently training at the AMRC Training Centre.

James Needham, senior manager of operations for Boeing Sheffield will work closely with Hyem and his team when Boeing Sheffield opens later this year. Needham said: “It’s great to host the Boeing team at the AMRC; they have been keen to come and see the research work that is underway and understand how the AMRC model of collaborative industry and academic research is so successful.”

“The AMRC are maturing the technology and manufacturing processes that will underpin operations in Boeing Sheffield and the AMRC will be able to support Boeing’s ambitions to expand in-house production selective technologies,” Needham added.

During the demonstrations Hyem said it was clear the AMRC had evidenced in perfect clarity how the development of the programme was progressing so Boeing could see the milestones being achieved.

AMRC Project Engineer Beth Cousins and Boeing Apprentice Joel Knowles demonstrated a machining process for one of the components and the gains the AMRC has made by optimising the cycle times for its production.

Cousins has also been working with the Boeing apprentices to familiarise them with the machining programmes and capabilities, ready for the start of operations at Boeing Sheffield. Cousins said: “We want them to be straight out of the starting lines when Boeing Sheffield opens, so they can walk through the door on day one and be confident they know the production processes inside out.”

Knowles said working with Cousins and the AMRC team has given him insight and perspective into the manufacturing processes: “It’s given me a great head start in training and I’ve been able to see how wide in scope the programme of work is that will take place in Boeing Sheffield. It’s exciting to have had the opportunity to be part of the future of such an incredible company as Boeing, straight from school.” (SV)

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