Consulting Firm Suggests Solutions to Aircraft Program Delays

David Bonnus, cofounder of Paris-based Step Consulting, recently analyzed the causes of major aerospace program delays and suggested how airframers could b

The Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787, both of which appeared at July’s Farnborough airshow, each suffered through delays approaching three years. Neither airframer correctly assessed the respective projects’ complexity, an independent consultant insists. (Photo: David McIntosh)

By Thierry Dubois • Writer

September 10, 2010

David Bonnus, cofounder of Paris-based Step Consulting, recently analyzed the causes of major aerospace program delays and suggested how airframers could better keep to their schedules. The release of the analysis comes as Boeing, Airbus and others keep struggling with program delays. It bears the stamp of common sense, which some big companies’ executives seem to have lost under financial pressure.

The first of Bonnus’s five major causes boils down to over-optimism. At the planning stage, companies do not fully recognize the challenges inherent in the technology and team organization, according to Bonnus. They do foresee difficulties, but tend to “bet” all of them will not happen–or not simultaneously. “This has led to breakthroughs such as the Boeing 747 or Concorde but is no good for keeping on schedule,” Bonnus said.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN