OREANDA-NEWS. February 27, 2009. JSC "Irkut" Corporation" conducts a number of activities aimed at improving the efficiency of production, increasing labor productivity and reducing production costs at Corporation’s plants and sub-units.

"Irkut" is among the first agencies in the Russian aerospace industry to continuously introduce modern Lean-technologies. The mastering of these technologies commenced early in 2008 and already delivered initial practical results.

The Corporation now features the managing structure for improving organizational, technological and logistics processes. 

The top priority is to introduce the innovations at Irkutsk Aviation plant where the all-level management training and pilot projects practicing are simultaneously under way. Lean-technologies are employed in the machine-assembly shops and international industrial cooperation shops.

In future the tools and methods of Lean-technologies will be utilized by all sub-units and divisions of "Irkut" Corporation including management and designers’ departments.

The designers, technologists, economists commenced their training on how to use lean-technologies in aircraft designing and mastering new aircraft production. For the first time in Russia while developing new MC-21 short/mid-range aircraft Corporation actively employs lean-technologies to ensure design according to the given net cost, meeting customer’s requirements, and all-round stock-taking of all plant’s technological capabilities.

According to Oleg Demchenko, "Irkut" President and UAC Vice-president, "the initial experience in lean-technologies’ introduction testifies to the fact, that they truly aid in improving production efficiency, labor productivity and product quality". Oleg Demchenko also highlighted the urgency of lean-technologies’ introduction to cut back production costs. 

 In order to improve the efficiency of the available equipment and to fine-tune the technological refurbishment plans "Irkut" interacts with "MAGNA STEYR", one of the leading automotive suppliers worldwide.

Company’s experts visited Irkutsk Aviation plant and are now preparing recommendations on optimizing the internal manufacturing processes as well as logistic, supply chain and jigs & tools.

The head of MAGNA STEYR Aerospace Dr. Werner Gryksa said: “We are proud to be a partner of UAC. We already met a very motivated and professional team at IRKUT and are looking forward to a fruitful cooperation”.