Comparative Analysis of Supply Chain Management Practices by Boeing and Airbus: Long-Term Strategic Implications

Abstract

Research Goals and Approach: Goals - • Develop an improved understanding of emerging supply chain management strategies and practices in the commercial aerospace industry • Explore the longer-term implications of the findings for supply chain management practices in the aerospace industry in the future/ Approach - • Conduct a comparative analysis of supply chain management practices by Boeing and Airbus • Focus on two large development programs -- the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A380 Navigator • Concentrate on the common set of suppliers supporting both programs to develop a sharp “compare-and contrast” perspective, looking at Boeing & Airbus from the vantage point of these common suppliers • Capture bottom-up “supplier’s voice” to complement “top-down” perspective, while controlling for any “embellished” top-down view from the two companies