The UK is a strategic centre of research for Boeing and with just 1% of the global population the UK undertakes 5% of global research. The British Government has set a target to raise national investment in R&D to 2.5% of GDP by 2014. The UK’s research policy aims to enhance the long-term competitiveness of British industry. Naturally, Boeing is keen to ensure that maintains its relationship with the UK, where there are more than 250 of its suppliers and partners.

 

The company has forged a wide range of enduring links with industry and universities that have added considerable value to the UK economy. Much of Boeing’s relationship with British industry stems from the Industrial Participation program, where in-country Boeing IP lead Brian Moran and his dedicated team work actively with economic development agencies across the regions to help deliver Boeing’s commitments. In the process, they also evaluate new research opportunities in collaboration with Boeing Research & Technology. Boeing has a long-term commitment and a Defence & Security Organisation (DSO)-certified track record for developing strategic projects and engaging in key technology activities with UK industry, universities, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Here are a few examples:

 

 

Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre — with the University of Sheffield, unique collaboration helped Messier-Dowty’s innovation for the successful 787 landing gear bid. Estimated to generate approximately $500 million of UK work over the life of the programme. Innovation assistance with more than 100 local SMEs has developed ₤55 million in additional work.

 

The AMRC opened both the new Factory of the Future building (AMRC2) and its new Composites Center building (AMRC1) in the autumn of 2008. A new 'AMRC3' building is currently being planned, which will eventually house an enlarged Composites Center plus focus on Teaching Factory efforts. The current AMRC1 building will then focus entirely on structural testing.

 

In 2008 the AMRC was recognized with the Queen's Anniversary Prize for its world-class manufacturing developments and impact on industry and academia. Boeing has also increased its collaboration with the University of Sheffield through the use of Boeing University Relations funds to sponsor scholarships and student projects.

 

 

TWI – Friction stir welding and laser advanced manufacturing will increase the South Yorkshire economy by more than £100 million over the next 5½ years, introducing the latest leading-edge technologies in joining, cutting and processing materials to South Yorkshire manufacturers. These two initiatives will also lead to nearly 200 new jobs and safeguard nearly 400 other jobs. Boeing continues to do R&D with TWI at their headquarters and main laboratories near Cambridge, plus is expanding their collaboration in Yorkshire.

 

 

QinetiQ – Among other collaborative work projects, Boeing has been using the QinetiQ 5-metre wind tunnel since the 1980s. A 10-year $56 million contract is currently in place. This sustains in the UK the world’s largest airframe and jet noise testing facility. During the Farnborough air show in 2006 Boeing and QinetiQ announced the establishment of a center for collaboration and experimentation at QinetiQ’s Cody Technology Park site in Farnborough, now known as The Portal. The state-of-the-art centre for demonstration and experimentation offers customers the latest in modeling, simulation and analysis tools. Commercial and military customers are able to network live, virtual and constructive assets in a collaborative, immersive, development environment to define requirements, evolve capabilities and discover new technologies to meet their needs.

 

 

Cambridge – Boeing’s relationship with this recognised leader in IT research is in areas such as automated reasoning, intelligent systems, natural language and information processing, information manipulation and information security. These areas map into Boeing’s system-of-systems challenges. As the nature of the aerospace business becomes more information and network-centric, there is a greater need and emphasis on the technologies focused on by the University of Cambridge. Further, work at Cambridge in the areas of information security, assurance, and cryptology coupled with networked dissimilar distributed (GRID) systems is also directly applicable to the company’s needs.

 

 

Cranfield – Funded almost $9 million of research in the last five years, working on a variety of projects in the areas of aviation, aeronautics, and aircraft development. One such project is the design and production of a sub-scale (21-ft wingspan) demonstrator, the X-48B blended wing body aircraft, which flew for the first time on 26 July 2007. Collaboration with Cranfield has included air traffic management simulation and modelling, waste management, sustainable systems, composite technologies and an MBA programme focused on project management for the aerospace industry.

 

Boeing has recently help start the Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) Centre at Cranfield. This consortium, modeled after the successful AMRC at the University of Sheffield, will focus on technologies to revolutionize aircraft health monitoring, prognostics and use of acquired data to manage the system.

 

 

Renault F1 – Since 2004, Boeing Research & Technology and the Renault Formula One racing team, a UK-based world champion in the high-tech motor sports industry, have worked together on technology collaboration projects of mutual interest. These projects include computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and direct digital manufacturing (DDM) enhancements. Boeing Research & Technology has been entered into this research relationship as part of its efforts to find new technologies and processes for improving aerospace products and services. 

 

 

Loughborough University – The Rapid Manufacturing Research Group at Loughborough University has a strong presence in the area of additive manufacturing who investigate process modeling, process development, applications, and innovative manufacturing techniques. Boeing is one of nine members in the three–year, £1.4M ATKINS project, which is a collaborative effort to investigate and evaluate additive manufacturing (AM) technologies as a low-carbon, sustainable, and component-level performance enhancing manufacturing process.

 

 

Strathclyde University – Boeing is teaming with the university and Rolls-Royce to initiate the Advanced Forging Research Centre (AFRC) near Glasgow. This new centre, modeled after the AMRC, will do R&D on new forging and forming technologies. The Centre is expected to open in the summer of 2009.

 

 

Boeing Leadership Centre – UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) have the opportunity to attend world-class leadership development programmes at the Boeing Leadership Centre. Almost a dozen UK SME leaders have taken this unique opportunity to date.

 

Commenting on his experience at the BLC at the Program Manager’s Workshop in 2008, Sean Donaldson, an executive with Babcock Marine, had this to say:

 

“On arrival at the BOEING Leadership Center you know the experience is going to be memorable. The dedicated campus with on-site accommodation and training facilities is only upstaged by the excellence of the course content, staff and guest speakers.

 

The week saw the class undertake a mixture of taught classes and interactive lectures delivered by practicing Boeing professionals. The subjects addressed areas such as Project Controls, Project Baselines, Team Development and International Traffic and Arms (ITAR) restrictions and requirements. All of the knowledge delivered was then tested using a simulated project supported by a staff of 8 experts drawn from across the Boeing organisation.

 

As a learning experience the course exceeded all expectations and has already delivered benefits to projects I am currently involved in.”