13 Reasons to Outsource Your Aerospace Wing Design

Aerospace wing design is a pivotal element in the aerospace world. The wings are not just components of an aircraft — they are engineered structures that require precision, in-depth knowledge of physics, 3D engineering, and CAD expertise to function optimally.

However, the design process can be daunting, often causing engineering managers to grapple with time and resource constraints. That’s where aerospace wing design outsourcing comes into the picture. In this expert guide, you’ll learn why you should outsource your next aerospace wing design.

What Goes into Aerospace Wing Design?

Aerospace wing design involves a lot more than just making a quick sketch and taking it to a machinist. The design requires comprehensive knowledge of aerodynamics, structural mechanics, materials science, and a deep understanding of manufacturing processes.

To design a wing, you’ll probably encounter:

• Developing 3D models using CAD software
• Simulation and testing to determine the aircraft’s performance under various conditions
• Material selection to ensure structural integrity and optimal weight balance
• Detailed production planning for efficient and cost-effective manufacturing
• Wind simulations to understand the drag coefficient

Why Is Aerospace Wing Design So Hard?

As you probably know, designing an aircraft’s wings is hard work. A high-quality designer needs to understand its complexity, be proficient in CAD, and know how to get the part made.

Complexity

The design of an aerospace wing involves multiple disciplines. You need to understand physics and aerodynamics just to start the design. You need extensive engineering experience to ensure the part works as intended.

CAD Proficiency

Designing the part in CAD is just as difficult — designing an aerospace wing requires years of experience using advanced 3D CAD modeling software.

Material Selection

The performance of an aircraft greatly depends on the materials used. Selecting the right materials is crucial and requires first-hand experience with how different materials react under different loads.

Manufacturing Knowledge

A good design is not enough. You need a profound understanding of manufacturing processes to ensure that your design can be produced effectively and efficiently — a part that only works on your computer screen is useless, it needs to be manufacturable and work in real life, too.

What Is Aerospace Wing Design Outsourcing?

Aerospace wing design outsourcing is a process that involves hiring an external CAD/CAM service provider to handle the complexities of wing design on a contractual basis. In other words, you’re working with a contracted team rather than a team of full-time in-house engineers at your company.

Outsourcing typically involves a project-specific contract with defined timelines and deliverables, offering a more flexible and cost-effective solution.

Outsourcing companies offer a wide variety of services, from initial conceptualization and 3D modeling to simulation, testing, and preparing the design for manufacturing.
Since the quality of these services varies from company to company, it’s essential to conduct in-depth research before deciding on the most suitable provider for your needs.

Aspects to consider include the company’s reputation, previous projects, technical capabilities, and their understanding of aerospace industry standards and regulations. If you pick the wrong outsourced team, you might be throwing away your time and money.

13 Reasons to Outsource Your Aerospace Wing Design

Now that we highlighted how difficult aerospace wing designs are, and what an outsourced engineering team can do for you, let’s review 13 ways that an outsourced team can help during your next aerospace wing design project.

Access to Expertise

Outsourcing provides access to a vast pool of experts with specialized knowledge in aerospace wing design. The experience and insights these professionals bring to the table significantly enhances the quality of your design.

Also, because these experts are continually updating their knowledge and skills, they can provide innovative solutions and navigate the complexities of wing design with ease.

A good outsourcing company typically has multidisciplinary teams, meaning they can handle every aspect of the design process. This collaborative approach ensures a  more complete and effective design, since each expert contributes their unique perspective and expertise.

Cost-Effectiveness

When you outsource your wing design, you only pay for the work completed on the project. This model provides a stark contrast to the costs of maintaining an in-house team, which includes full-time salaries, benefits, training, and software licenses. The savings are often substantial, freeing up money that you can use to enhance other parts of your company.

Outsourcing eliminates the need for hefty upfront investments in CAD software and other technologies. As a result, even smaller companies can access high-quality design services and compete with larger organizations.

Time-Saving

Outsourcing your aerospace wing design can free up your in-house team to focus on other essential tasks. This can be especially beneficial for companies with tight schedules or limited internal resources.

The outsourced team will work independently on the design, reducing the workload of your staff and streamlining operations. Additionally, experienced outsourcing partners can deliver high-quality designs in a shorter time frame due to their expertise and dedicated resources.

At CAD/CAM Services, we offer turnarounds as quick as 24 hours. This faster turnaround can be critical in the fast-paced aerospace industry where speed-to-market can be a competitive advantage.

Scalability

With outsourcing, you can easily scale your design efforts up or down based on project requirements. This flexibility can be incredibly beneficial in the dynamic aerospace industry, where project scopes can change rapidly. If you need to expand your design capabilities for a large project, you can do so without hiring new full-time employees or investing in additional software.

Once the project is over, you can reduce the scale of operations without worrying about layoffs or engineers that don’t have anything to work on. This flexibility ensures that your operations are as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

Access to Latest Technology

Making high-quality CAD models takes serious computer power. If you don’t have an advanced PC setup in-house, your CAD programs will be too slow to efficiently design an intricate aerospace wing.

Outsourcing partners typically have the latest and greatest computers, software, and technology in their facility. At CAD/CAM Services, we use the newest software with updated computers to ensure our work is streamlined across the board.

Smaller companies can’t compare because it doesn’t make sense for you to spend thousands on software and hardware that you might not use every day.

Risk Management

Outsourcing your aerospace wing design can help mitigate risks associated with design errors or project delays. Since the outsourcing company is contractually obliged to deliver the project on time and to the specified quality standards, any failures on their part could lead to contractual penalties. This sharing of risk can provide you with greater peace of mind.

Not to mention, these companies have comprehensive quality control processes in place to prevent errors and ensure high-quality output. Our expertise in the field also means we are better equipped to anticipate potential issues and devise strategies to avoid them, further reducing project risks.

Quality Assurance

Most outsourcing companies have stringent quality assurance (QA) processes in place to ensure their designs meet the highest standards. These QA processes often include multiple stages of review and testing, which can help detect and correct any design flaws before they become more significant issues.

In addition to their internal QA processes, outsourcing companies are also experienced in working with various industry and regulatory standards. This means that they can help ensure your designs comply with all relevant regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance issues down the line.

Resource Optimization

Outsourcing enables you to leverage external resources effectively.

Instead of investing heavily in in-house capabilities, you can rely on your outsourcing partner’s existing infrastructure and expertise. This approach allows you to optimize your resource allocation, focusing your in-house team on core business functions.

Plus, outsourcing can eliminate the need for continuous investment in employee training and technology upgrades. This can lead to substantial cost savings over time, further optimizing your resource use.

Competitive Advantage

Outsourcing your aerospace wing design can give you a competitive edge. By delivering high-quality designs faster and at a lower cost, you can stay ahead of competitors. The innovative solutions provided by your outsourcing partner can help differentiate your aircraft in the market.

By freeing up your in-house team to focus on other strategic areas, you can enhance your overall business performance. This strategic advantage can help your company grow and succeed in the competitive aerospace industry.

Focus on Core Business

By outsourcing non-core activities like aerospace wing design, you can focus more on your core business functions. This increased focus can lead to improved performance in key areas, enhancing your overall business results.

In addition, by freeing up internal resources, you can dedicate more time and effort to strategic planning, business development, and other critical tasks. This strategic focus can be a significant advantage in the fast-paced and highly competitive aerospace industry.

Innovation

Outsourcing partners often bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table. They stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in the field, ensuring that your designs are cutting-edge and competitive. This constant innovation can help your aircraft stand out in the market and appeal to a wider user base.

Also, the diversity of expertise within an outsourcing company can lead to more creative problem-solving. This collaborative approach can lead to more efficient and effective designs, improving the overall performance of your aircraft.

Flexible Contract Terms

Many outsourcing partners offer flexible contract terms, allowing you to tailor the services to your specific needs. This flexibility can make it easier to manage project costs and timelines, ensuring that the services align with your business objectives.

In addition, this flexibility allows you to adjust the services as your needs change. Whether you need additional resources for a large project or want to scale back during slower periods, you can adjust the contract terms accordingly.

Reduced Training Costs

Outsourcing eliminates the need for continuous employee training in evolving CAD/CAM technologies. Since the outsourcing partner is responsible for staying updated on the latest tools and techniques, you can save significant time and money on training.

This also ensures that your designs always leverage the most advanced and efficient tools available. This can enhance the quality of your designs and streamline the design process, leading to better overall results.

Conclusion

Outsourcing your aerospace wing design to a CAD/CAM service provider offers a myriad of benefits. From tapping into expert knowledge, saving time and money, to leveraging the latest technology and innovative ideas, it’s an effective strategy for optimizing your engineering operations.

So, don’t let the complexity of aerospace wing design hinder your progress. Instead, entrust it to the experts and focus on what you do best. Ready to explore the potential of outsourcing your aerospace wing design? Get a free quote today.