Akkodis powering A&D growth with engineering expertise

The aerospace and defense (A&D) industry, one of the most complex and high-stakes industries, is facing continuous disruptions due to rapid technological advances, rising complexity in the supply chain, regulatory compliance, and sustainability mandates. Emphasis on digital transformation has become paramount for this industry to accelerate product development, maximize cost savings, and improve the quality of its products and services.

Embracing engineering expertise lies at the core of digital transformation. The growing adoption of advanced technologies such as AI, digital twins, digital threads, and robotics is driving transformative change and enabling safe, efficient, and sustainable A&D operations.

With the A&D industry adapting to technological advances, service providers such as Akkodis, with its deep engineering expertise and capabilities in digital solutions, are positioning themselves as crucial enablers of more efficient and sustainable operations. The company is focusing on helping A&D OEMs and tier-1 suppliers integrate solutions that reduce operational costs, improve asset uptime, and drive innovation in product development while maintaining operational resilience and meeting stringent industry requirements.

Prioritizing advancements in A&D with a focus on connectivity and smart manufacturing

A strong focus on digital transformation is changing how the A&D industry operates and is driving industry players to respond to change by adopting improved tech-enabled processes. From predictive maintenance to virtual prototyping, the use of AI, IoT, and digital twins is becoming ubiquitous across A&D operations.

Akkodis has developed capabilities integrating technological advancements to provide robust engineering solutions that can streamline operations and manufacturing processes and bring efficiency. Its platforms and solutions address the innovation requirements of the industry:

• Using an open-source platform with an optimized algorithm and ML, Akkodis offers a digital model that streamlines engineering processes. It achieves this by leveraging digital twin models to create a virtual representation of the product lifecycle. Its platform can improve the design process by detecting issues using mathematical algorithms and simulating optimal manufacturing scenarios. The outcome is lower lead times and development costs.
• Through its 3DJuump platform, Akkodis has built an efficient maintenance system enabling A&D manufacturers to monitor aircraft and simplify the process upgrading aircraft after delivery. It does this through real-time data interpretation and feeding data into its digital twin technology.
• For a leading aircraft engine manufacturer, Akkodis developed augmented reality-based training environments for maintenance procedures, enabling the use of tools together with physical management of materials and thereby increasing productivity and ‘first time right’ (FTR) outcomes.
• The development of ‘Green&Fly’, a zero-emission aircraft concept, aims to help the A&D industry decarbonize by leveraging hydrogen as a fuel source, reflecting its commitment to creating innovative designs.

Gradually building its foundation in area of space, satellite systems and cybersecurity

Akkodis is augmenting its capabilities in satellite infrastructure and space exploration by designing next-generation satellite systems. In partnership with Thales, it is designing and simulating the software-defined and reprogrammable orbit control system (AOCS) as well as satellite operation definition and testing activities for Space Inspire. It has successfully contributed to space operations, such as launching the OneWeb – 648 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation, providing operations engineering support and setting up the hardware and software infrastructure for Copernicus Marine Service.

By moving quickly into this new technology area, integrating technological advancements that can help business leaders start developing business and product strategies in a rapidly emerging market. Its digital twin technology will help business and technology teams simulate how existing defense systems will use the growing LEO satellite infrastructure to advance their capabilities.

The firm also addresses cybersecurity challenges and specializes in data communication for harsh environments. It is building private tactical 5G IP networking units that the military can use to establish mobile communication units on the battlefield with security protocols. As IoT, robotics, and AI are increasingly used for military purposes, the protection of data in transit to these systems is a core function, not a feature.

The Bottom Line: Success for A&D enterprise leaders hinges on the effective integration of engineering capabilities or risk of falling behind.

To stay ahead, leaders should focus on continuously investing in engineering capabilities and collaborating with technology partners to accelerate their time-to-market, lower costs, and enhance overall efficiency to gain a strategic advantage.

Akkodis, with its strong focus on driving digital transformation through its deep engineering expertise, can be a growth partner for enterprises seeking to innovate, navigate complexities, and unlock new avenues of value in the A&D space.