In our monthly series where we invite the top people in the aviation industry to speak out this week we are delighted to feature Sir Michael Jenkins KCMG, president of Boeing UK since April 2003. Sir Michael rose to the rank of ambassador in a career of more than 30 years in the British Diplomatic Service. He is currently an advisor to The Prince's Trust and chairman of the Action Centre for Europe. He is a council member of Britain in Europe and a trustee and former chairman of the Marylebone Cricket Club.
Sir Michael, who was knighted in 1989, is the author of ”Arakcheev, Grand Vizir of the Russian Empire” and of ”A House in Flanders”.
The UK is firmly established as the largest aerospace employer in Europe, and the second largest in the world. Through manufacturing and research, the industry employed 117,256 people in 2002, 34% of the total within the EU. The industry also indirectly supports a further 200,000 jobs within the supply chain. Advanced technology is the lifeblood of aerospace and research and development (R&D) is critical to industry innovation and expansion. Despite uncertainty in the commercial market, R&D has increased by 10.9% in real terms with a turnover of some $32.45bn ” responsible for 12% of the UK”s manufacturing research spending.
The aerospace industry is characterised by long development cycles and Boeing has invested continuously to ensure it maintains its reputation for being at the cutting edge of the aerospace industry. A critical element of this is ongoing investment in R&D to ensure both the 787 and future ”planes meet the evolving needs of commercial aerospace. We invest heavily in universities and research partners both in the industry and in wider organisations to broaden the knowledge base.
A prime example of this is the $26.5m collaboration at the Advanced Manufacturing and Research Centre (AMRC) at Sheffield University, which builds on the shared scientific knowledge at Boeing and the research facilities within the University. We have invested in establishing the AMRC, working with our partners in the US, UK and global aerospace industry to invest and install the infrastructure needed to conduct research. As they develop innovative ideas for the market they can increase their competitiveness and that comes full circle into a bid for Boeing contracts.
The AMRC is a world-class facility developing innovative and advanced technology solutions for materials forming, metal working and castings. There”s no doubt the centre has delivered substantial benefits for British industry with Boeing being the largest customer for the UK aerospace industry. It is a tangible example of the knowledge economy in action, working together with universities and organisations enabling them to exploit new technologies and deliver new aerospace solutions. AMRC have an outstanding capability in manufacturing research and it clearly made a lot of sense for us to team with them. This has paid dividends in many ways, not least the selection of Messier-Dowty, who exploited technology at the AMRC to help win the 787 landing gear contract.
The 737, the most successful airliner of all time, had 21 orders when it was launched. The 787 has over 250 with the first flight 18 months away. We have taken a new approach to the 787”s construction, reducing costs by having most of the aircraft manufactured by its global partners, and relying on its final assembly site in as little as three days. To achieve this it has chosen to work with selected UK partners including Rolls-Royce, Smiths, Cobham and, as noted, the UK arm of landing gear provider Messier-Dowty. Other UK firms are still in the bidding process for further contracts.
Boeing”s ongoing investment in R&D and its selection of UK partners to supply mission critical systems and parts for the 787 will have a knock-on effect to other suppliers. We have partnered with UK companies for around 40 years and have a very productive relationship with them. The collaboration with Sheffield University is a visible demonstration of where we are going for the future.