DCAC Configurator: New-AirplaneConfigurationDefinition Software

A computing application is now available to help Boeing configuration engineers more accurately and efficiently configure the new airplanes operators purchase from Boeing. Called Configurator, this application will reduce the complexity and length of defining the airplane configuration. In addition to eventually reducing the flow time to order an airplane--including eliminating manual searches for information about airplane options--Configurator will enable a rapid analysis of all operator-ordered changes to ensure technical compatibility and completeness.
Defining a new airplane during configuration discussions with operators is now easier and faster using a new software application called Configurator. Configurator reduces the time re uired to select and validate options for the operator!s configuration, replacing lengthy manual searches for information with real-time, online searches. It also provides the most accurate and current data available, which should help ensure the accuracy of data used throughout airplane production. "his new application is a #ey element of a Boeing initiative to simplify airplane design and production $see %Airplane Design and &roduction Initiative%'.Configurator will improve the configuration process for operators by offering the following benefits( ). Improved data access and management. *. +reater visibility of available options. ,. -educed configuration flow time. Improved Data Access and Management "raditional discussions of a proposed airplane configuration re uired Boeing airplane configuration engineers and operators to review various catalogs and documents that defined current options available for specific airplane models. "hey also needed to review a price catalog for those options and a detailed description of the basic airplane called the configuration specification. All of this printed material was updated routinely but might not have included all new options and basic design improvements since the last publishing of the document revision. Configurator, however, gives airplane configuration engineers the ability to present operators with this information electronically, including versions as they

become available. .sing a laptop computer, the engineer can uic#ly download the latest available option data, including up-to-date prices and weights $figure )'. Configurator will also automatically validate the configuration according to certain engineering constraints, ensuring that the airplane is complete and that all available options selected by the operator are technically compatible. Greater Visibilit of Available !ptions /inding options to meet an operator!s business re uirement often meant the airplane configuration engineer would have to manually search catalogs or other documents, or consult with another engineer to re uest further investigation. Configurator ma#es this information more readily available to the operator, providing the opportunity to ma#e faster, better informed decisions. Configurator does this through a library of available options that can be searched easily and uic#ly using many different criteria. "hese criteria include specific part numbers, #ey words that might appear in the option title, the Air "ransport Association chapter where the option might be found, and even part descriptions $figure *'. /or example, an operator may have established a long-term supplier contract for maintenance spares and may wish to select available options offered by that supplier. "he airplane configuration engineer can uic#ly select the supplier!s name to find all options in the library that contain parts by that supplier. An operator may also want to discuss seats, including passenger seats, secondobserver seats in the flight dec#, cabin crew seats, and flight crew seats. .sing the #eyword search in the option title, Configurator will find all options with the word %seat% in the title. "educed Configuration #low $ime In addition to reducing the time re uired to configure an airplane, Configurator will also allow Boeing to offer options to operators sooner, giving them greater flexibility in ordering airplanes. Designed to be nimble, Configurator reduces flow time in three other significant areas(

"he airplane configuration engineer can easily record airplane-specific configuration data into the operator!s file, called a Customer 0pecific 1ption 0election $figure ,', during the configuration discussion. "his eliminates the delay that normally occurred before Configurator, when the airplane configuration engineer had to return to Boeing to input configuration data into the change-processing systems. "he automated configuration validation chec# will reduce the time re uired to verify that the airplane is complete and that the configuration is certifiable, by reducing the need for lengthy manual technical configuration audits. .sing telecommunication capabilities and real-time data entry during the configuration discussion, an operator!s encrypted configuration data will be able to be sent bac# to Boeing uic#ly for entry into the pricing and

offerability process. "he result is a much faster turnaround time for a proposal to the operator. Summar Configuring an airplane has traditionally been a lengthy, complicated process. At times, configuration data brought to the discussions were not always current, slowing the operator!s decision-ma#ing process, and visibility of options that met the operator!s business re uirements was limited to paper documentation that was time-consuming to use. 2owever, with Configurator, Boeing can now give operators maximum visibility of all available options with the most current technical data possible, with the goal of reducing flow time of the overall configuration definition process.

----------------------------------------------Airplane Design and %roduction Initiative A comprehensive business process improvement #nown as Define and Control Airplane Configuration34anufacturing -esource 4anagement $DCAC34-4' is underway at Boeing. "his initiative is aimed at lowering the cost and increasing the efficiency of Boeing airplane configuration and production processes. "he Configurator software application is an integral part of this process improvement. "he initiative also calls for replacing hundreds of custom-built local computing systems with four integrated commercial off-the-shelf systems to give users throughout the company--and around the world--access to one authoritative source of reliable data about Boeing products. 5hile Boeing airplanes have operated successfully in the commercial airplane mar#et for many years, the processes for designing and producing them have become increasingly complex and time-consuming. "he new system and processes of DCAC34-4, primarily in engineering and manufacturing, center around four #ey elements for promoting convenience and efficiency( ). A single source of product data, resident in an application called the product data manager, will replace more than 677 old $%legacy%' systems and eliminate the rewor# and errors that result from system complexity. *. A simplified configuration management process based on part numbers and a manufacturing serial number will replace the cumbersome system of %effectivities% that trac#ed airplane configuration based on drawing numbers.

,. "ailored business streams, a common-sense philosophy that can be applied to engineering, will maximi8e design reusability by ta#ing advantage of commonality among airplanes of the same model, or can be applied to manufacturing, where it ta#es advantage of stable processes. 6. "ailored materials management will match the material-handling techni ue to the part, eliminating unnecessary complexity. "he new processes and system are primarily internal improvements that will remain largely invisible to operators of Boeing commercial airplanes but are expected to produce certain benefits for them. "hese include later option selection, shorter decision-to-delivery time, fewer defects and less rewor#, less variation between units, and better product support. --------------------------------------------------

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Steven &a es 0enior 0pecialist 9ngineer Customer 'ngineering Boeing Commercial Airplane +roup