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This book presents firsthand insights into strategies and approaches for the commercial aerospace supply chain in response to the numerous changes that airlines, aircraft OEMs and their suppliers have experienced over the past few decades. In doing so, it investigates the entire product value chain.

Accordingly, the chapters address the challenges of configuration and demand, and highlight the specificities of customization in the aviation industry. They analyze component manufacturing, share valuable insights into assembly and integration activities, and describe aftermarket business models.

In order to ensure more varied and balanced coverage, the book includes contributions by researchers, suppliers, and experts and practitioners from consulting companies and the aircraft industry. Taken together, they provide a holistic perspective on the transformation drivers and the innovations that have either been implemented or will be adopted in the near future.

The book introduces and describes new concepts and innovations such as 3D printing, E2E demand management, digital production, predictive maintenance and open innovation in general, supplementing them with sample industrial applications from the aviation sector.

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Introduction.- Part I: Product Development.- Part II: Configuration and Demand.- Part III: Component Manufacturing.- Part IV: Assembly and Integration.- Part V: Life Cycle Business Models and Aftermarkets.- Outlook.

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Professor Dr. Johannes Walther is Head of the Institute for Production Management (IPM) and professor of Business Administration with a focus on production management at the Faculty of Economics at Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences. He is the publisher of "Supply Chain Management"(TM) magazine, member of the advisory board of the Volkswagen Group Institute for Procurement (IFB) and the Academic Forum of Volkswagen Group Procurement, as well as lecturer at the Volkswagen Group AutoUni. He studied economics at the University of Hannover. After earning his doctorate degree in 1992 he assumed leading positions in industry, trade and service companies. Born in Hannover in 1959, Johannes is married with two children and currently lives in Hannover, Germany.
Klaus Richter is Chief Procurement Officer for Airbus Group & Airbus. Additionally he serves as Chairman of the Board of Airbus Germany and leads the supervisory board of Premium AEROTEC Group. Klaus´ professional path within Airbus Group dates back to 2007 when he joined Airbus S.A.S. as Executive Vice President Procurement. Before joining Airbus Group Klaus was Senior Vice President Materials Purchasing for BMW. He started his career with McKinsey & Company where he worked as management consultant for automotive, electronics and aerospace businesses and product development. He graduated from Technical University of Munich, Germany, with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and spent two years as a researcher and lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley. Born in Munich in 1964, Klaus is married with two children and currently lives in Toulouse, France.

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