Overcoming challenges in aerospace engineering with Standards

Challenges in the aerospace industry today

Working in aerospace engineering means an ongoing responsibility to remain compliant and prioritise safety of all involved. Standards are in place to constantly monitor every detail of production, and often the very diverse supply chain.

A mix of production time, strict quality controls and the need to remain cost-effective present ongoing challenges for the industry. As the aerospace industry evolves, there are key challenges that most organisations face, including:

• How to discover and maintain quality control issues on the test bench without greater cost 

• Meeting precise specifications and benchmarks 

• Tolerance of ever more complex of hi-tech metals and materials and the Standards associated with them 

As we enter a new era in aerospace engineering, the need to reduce risk and remain compliant is a priority. Risk and compliance issues are often multi-national and highly detailed, where it can be difficult to remain updated on ever-changing Standards. 

Importance of Standards in the aerospace engineering industry

Standards play an important role when facing these challenges. They set the benchmark for what needs to be achieved and provide guidance on best practices. Implementing the right Standards can eliminate manual workflow processes, reduce risk and bring products to market safely. 

More than just setting a benchmark, Standards can help identify business and market opportunities. Exploring options for your organisation based on the requirements of a Standard could be what you need to tackle your challenges and remain competitive.  

Utilising the right information can present new opportunities and solutions through facilitating problem solving. It can help form your next move, from innovating how products are tested to the material it can be made from. 

Key Publishers in the aerospace industry 

SAE International 

SAE International is a professional organisation for mobility engineering professionals in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries. The Society is a Standards development organisation for the engineering of powered vehicles of all kinds, including cars, trucks, boats, aircraft, and others. 

Popular SAE International Standards include: 

• SAE AS 9100:2016  - Quality Management Systems - Requirements for Aviation, Space & Defense 

• SAE AS 13003:2015 - Management System Analysis Requirements for the Aero Engine Supply Chain 

• SAE AS 9146:2017 - Foreign Object Damage (FOD) Prevention Program

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 

AIAA is the world's largest technical society dedicated to aerospace engineering, with Standards covering topics from mission assurance and unmanned aerial vehicles, computational fluid dynamics, and atmospheric, orbital and space environment models to spacecraft architecture, space power and propulsion, and safety for space systems and vehicles. 

Popular AIAA Standards include: 

• AIAA G-095A:2017 - Guide to Safety of Hydrogen and Hydrogen Systems  

• AIAA S 121A:2017 - Electromagnetic Compatibility Requirements for Space Equipment & Systems 

• AIAA S-111A:2014/A1-2019 - Qualification and Quality Requirements for Space Solar Cells

American Association of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

ASME promotes the art, science and practice of multidisciplinary and allied sciences around the globe and provide Standards for the energy, bioengineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace, automotive and medical device industries. 

Popular ASME Standards include: 

• ASME BPVC Complete Set-2019

• ASME B31.1:2018 - Process Piping 

How to stay current in a changing industry 

Organisations need to navigate a complex maze of regulations and Standards. A Standards Management solution that can provide real-time updates, notification of changes to Standards and easy access to Standards anywhere and anytime are just a few of the features your organisation may need.

Standards play an important role in aerospace engineering when dealing with key challenges faced by the industry. Firm regulatory obligations leave no room for error.