OREANDA-NEWS. December 20, 2010. JSC “IRKUT Corporation” has held a scientific-practical conference     - “Efficiency – as the basis of production”. The event was held at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAP) – a subsidiary of JSC “IRKUT Corporation”.

The main purpose of the conference was the development of Lean-manufacturing technologies in the enterprises of the “UAC – commercial aircraft” business unit.

Cost reduction, increasing efficiency of hardware utilization and optimization of its purchasing were discussed during the conference. At the Irkutsk Aviation Plant as an example, specialists from 20 enterprises and organizations got familiar with the experience of implementing Lean-technologies for aircraft manufacturing. Also were examined perspectives of involving Key-suppliers in the process of improving product quality and cost reduction for its manufacturing.

The conference was attended by Sergey Dementiev, Senior Vise President, Executive Director of JSC “IRKUT Corporation”, Vladimir Chirikov, General Director of “Aviastar SP”, General Director of IAP and Alexander Veprev, Vice President of IRKUT Corporation.

Vladimir Chirikov stated that the conference – is one of steps toward the program of production efficiency improvement in the industry. Programs which gave a positive effect at the IAP could be implemented at other enterprises.

Alexander Veprev, General Director of IAP, Vice President of IRKUT Corporation said: “Due to wide implementation of Lean-technologies at the plant we doubled the rate of output per worker. So in 2007 the rate of output per worker was USD  60,000 a year, but at the end of ten months of that year it raised up to USD 135,000.” Alexander Veprev also reported that the load of high-productivity machines has increased by almost 50% for the last three years.

As a result of the conference the winners of Lean-technologies competition among factories were awarded. Specialist of the IAP received 28 awards, JSC “Aviastar” – 11 awards.

Lean-technologies program has been implemented at the IAP since 2008 when the plant was tasked to increase production due to signed contracts in condition of limited resources.

The development of Lean-manufacturing program is realized by the following directions:  

- establishing a system of permanent improvement of the IAP’s activities with the entire staff involved in the process;

- increase of production rate and improvement of the corporate culture due to realization of 5C program;

- increase of utilization efficiency of modern equipment (primarily in machine-assembly production);

- reduction of production cycles of aviation techniques;

- increase of aviation equipment production efficiency according to International Industrial Cooperation program;

- establishing a system of quality management at the IAP.

Another important area for implementation of Lean-manufacturing program is preparations for production of MC-21 short/mid range airliner. At the moment works on the development of MC-21’s production scheduler and logistic concept are being held with implementation of Lean-technologies.