“You get what you pay for” would appear to be the mantra the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is channeling in its ongoing efforts to shore up an industry supply chain it says has struggled with inconsistent levels of government spending. The impact goes beyond military programs, contributing to challenges on the commercial aviation side of the industry, according to AIA president and CEO Eric Fanning, although he did acknowledge some improvement on both fronts when speaking with AIN before the Farnborough International Airshow.
Decades of pressure on manufacturers to reduce aircraft prices have resulted in a very lean supply chain that has struggled to adapt to increasing demand. “Progress has been made, especially on the commercial side,” Fanning commented. “Having capacity and the ability to move quickly comes with some expense, and we have seen the commercial side invest in that capacity, so improvements are being made there.”
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