Manufacturing
Capability profile
MANUFACTURING
Our capabilities and our people
BAE Systems offers the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and security
customers total capability across the defence and security domains.
We combine key skills in engineering and systems
integration and work to optimise the ADF’s military
capability by delivering the most efficient, valuefor-money solutions. We draw on the strengths of
our global company to develop greater capabilities
that ensure better protection for Australia and our
soldiers, sailors and aircrews.
For more than half a century, we have designed,
integrated, manufactured and maintained military
systems for the ADF.
We work hard to maximise Australian industry
involvement in all of our projects and activities.
We are a significant contributor to the Australian
economy. We recognise that the future for
Australia and companies like BAE Systems
Australia rests with our young people. That is
why we invest in helping to boost the future skills
of Australia’s primary, secondary and tertiary
students.
BAE Systems’ culture is based upon creating
partnerships and long-term working relationships
with our customers, our suppliers and our people.
As Australia’s most capable defence supplier
across the defence and security domains, our
products and services are designed to give
the ADF a real advantage by helping frontline
personnel to do their jobs quickly, effectively and
safely.
Supporting the men and women of the ADF is at
the heart of everything we do. We recognise that
our customers’ needs have changed. Defence is
striving for enhanced military capability at lower
cost. Today’s operational environment is also more
complex and less predictable than ever.
For more than half a
century, we have designed,
integrated, manufactured
and maintained military
systems for the ADF.
The military is required to deploy at short notice
virtually anywhere in the world, fully equipped
and with a strong and sustainable supply chain
to support expeditionary tasks. BAE Systems is
meeting these challenges. Working closely with
the ADF and our other customers, we deliver
innovative, cost-effective through-life solutions.
Our company is structured to ensure we deliver
the most effective solutions at every level. We
take responsibility for providing a fully integrated
end-to-end service to customers, advanced
manufacturing of the latest technology equipment,
delivering through-life support for existing
capabilities and future requirements.
We maintain and support products and services
that are supplied by our company and others,
constantly seeking opportunities to maximise
capability and generate synergies.
Our global supply chain and local SMEs
As the Australia’s largest defence contractor,
BAE Systems supply chain includes more than
2,400 businesses. In 2011, we spent more than
$850 million purchasing goods and services
from these companies.
BAE Systems Australia supports SMEs within our
supply chain to expand and prosper. Central to our
commitment is working with SMEs to increase their
capability in order to deliver product in accordance
with Quality, Cost and Delivery (QCD) requirements to
both our Australian and global businesses.
More than 80 per cent of these Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) are based in Australia. Our
supply chain is vital to our success.
We also support suppliers to increase their profile
across our chain and thereby boost their potential
order intake. This includes implementing joint
development and performance plans to improve
the performance of specific projects, standardising
quality assessments, and ensuring that all our
relationships are built on effective communication.
We engage our major subcontractors and SME
suppliers as part of a tried and trusted process
known as Life Cycle Management, which directs our
efforts from identification of an opportunity right
through to the end of a project.
We form partnerships within our supply chain early
in this cycle to build up the total capability required
to win and successfully deliver a project. As a prime
contractor, BAE Systems Australia aims to identify
and partner with other Australian companies to
put together the right package of capability and to
perform the systems integration role.
In 2012, we formed a specialist team charged with
identifying more opportunities for Australian firms to
secure work within its global supply chain.
With the support of the Australian Government,
our new Global Access Program (GAP) team will
work closely with existing and new local suppliers,
especially SMEs to help identify and capture a range
of opportunities. The GAP team will also support
development and continuous improvement activities
with SMEs, provide advice around regulatory issues
and act as a single point of contact into BAE
Systems global supply chain.
More than 50 Australian companies have already
secured contracts within BAE Systems global supply
chain, with a total value of over $30 million.
Our advanced manufacturing expertise
BAE Systems Australia has a comprehensive
Manufacturing capability that is able to produce
all levels of hardware product from procurement
of raw materials/components to piece part
manufacture (electrical and mechanical),
through to an integrated, tested, unit, assembly
or system.
Underpinning this capability is a set of robust
processes directly aligned to international
standards ISO-9001:2008 and AS9100. Mechanical
capabilities focus on precision machining of Hard
(Titanium) and Soft (Aluminium) metals to produce
complex close tolerance parts and subassemblies
for international aircraft (F-35, Typhoon Eurofighter),
missile and weapon system programs. Also
included in this process is part verification through
coordinate measurement and Non Destructive
Testing. Complementing the machining process is
a Military Standard, accredited finishing capability
that provides military/aerospace standard surface
treatment and painting.
Electrical capabilities focus on Wire Harnesses and
Circuit Card Assembly (Through Hole and Surface
Mount Technology) including conformal coat and
potting. Bench level electronic sub-assembly is also
conducted in this area. These processes are IPC
qualified to produce electronics that are compliant to
international military and aerospace standards.
Assembly, Integration and Test of electronic and
electro-optics are conducted utilising a cellular or
integrated product team approach. These activities
range from electronic Line Replaceable Units through
to full systems integration and environmental stress
screening.
Embedded within the Manufacturing group is a
dedicated Outsourcing team that manages external
part manufacture resulting from a make/buy review.
This team manages a number of key suppliers/
SMEs with an annual sub contract value of $8m.
This supply base consists of both mechanical and
electrical production companies along with a range
of material and equipment suppliers.
Manufacturing is currently involved in R&D activities
such as Titanium machining vibration trials in
conjunction with the Defence Material Technology
Centre and South Australian company, Vipac.
Other technology development collaborations exist
with the Swinburne University, University of Adelaide,
Uni-SA and the University of Queensland on the
SCRAMjet project.
The Manufacturing group employs skilled staff
across multiple disciplines including; Machining,
fitting, electronic assembly, testing (environmental
and functional), inventory control, production control,
engineering and quality. The Manufacturing group
also undertakes an active apprenticeship program
that maintains a core number of apprentices.
Our Manufacturing group has a long history of
Build to Print manufacture of avionics, electrooptics and military electronics systems for a
range of international OEMs (Original Equipment
Manufacturers).
Platform/product experience includes, but is
not limited to involvement in Joint Strike Fighter
Titanium machining, Typhoon (Eurofighter) electro
mechanical units, Blackhawk helicopter harnesses
and line replaceable units, Evolved Sea Sparrow
Missile (ESSM) thrust control and guidance
systems, Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control
integrated assemblies and the Nulka Decoy line
replaceable units.
BAE Systems Australia’s is committed to
providing a highly capable, single source, defence
and aerospace manufacturing solution for the
international market. This capability is being
delivered through a combination of investment in
new technologies/processes and a commitment to
develop and grow the Australian Small and Medium
Enterprise (SME) supply base.
BAE Systems
Tarananki Road, Edinbugh Parks
EDINBURGH SA 5111
AUSTRALIA
Telephone +61 (0)8 8 480 8888
Fax +61 (0)8 8480 8800
Web www.baesystems.com/australia
Postal address
PO Box 1068
SALISBURY SA 5018
AUSTRALIA
This document gives only a general description of the product(s)
or services except where expressly provided otherwise shall not
form part of any contract. From time to time, changes may be
made in the products or the conditions of supply.
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