Boosting productivity and inclusivity for Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters is the helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus, and one of the industry’s leading civil helicopter manufacturers, providing advanced solutions for air medical services, law enforcement, tourism and business transportation, as well as other non-military uses.

Challenge

The Airbus Helicopters design department was recording a 10% drop in productivity due to tool-related issues, and the client wanted to eliminate process blockages and enhance productivity.

Solution

Devised together with Avencod, the Testing Factory targets five main PLM applications to streamline processes and turn the productivity dip into an uptick.

The Testing Factory is built around three pillars: inclusion, ambition and partnership, to create an inclusive work environment that integrates teams from Airbus Helicopters, Avencod and Sogeti. A three-way partnership was crucial for project success.

Under the leadership of the Airbus Helicopters Project Manager Romain Cini and Fethi Mebrouk, Testing Lead and Quality Coach at Sogeti, the Factory targeted operations-critical applications — CATIA, VPM, SEE ELECTRICAL and CORE PDM —to improve functionality and reliability.

Key benefits delivered

Less than six months on from roll-out, the client has reported +39% test coverage, thanks to redesigned test processes and a dedicated team. In addition, +20% change requests delivered and an incredible +85% anomalies identified before production. This also contributed to an 8% drop in post-production incidents.

The Factory is composed of a team that includes neuroatypical staff, working on an integrated platform at Sogeti. This marks a first for Avencod, with its consultants operating outside its own premises—made possible thanks to Sogeti’s establishment of a dedicated project platform. Monthly touchpoints continue to ensure positive feedback, including improved workflow and productivity, and more valuable experiences for team members with disabilities, for a more inclusive workplace.

Along with increased productivity, the project has also produced a template for future initiatives within the company, designed to foster an inclusive and supportive work environment for the Airbus team. And by addressing the drop in productivity in a way that helps foster an inclusive environment.

Our collaboration has delivered substantial benefits, testament to the power of partnership between Airbus Helicopters, Avencod and Sogeti.