FEBRUARY 2022AEROSPACEDEFENSEREVIEW.COM9structures and systems, interpreting geometric features, relating features to manufacturing operations, generating work instructions and detailed schedules, augmenting three-dimensional reality and enhancing perception for product fabrication and assembly, simulating production processes, automating inspection and diagnosing quality concerns, adapting and controlling equipment, monitoring inventory and prescribing replenishment policies, stationing resources and planning the movement of material, fusing sensor data and key process indicators to monitor and convey performance, helping managers to wisely allocate resources, calibrating tools and equipment, optimizing machine use and determining maintenance windows, training workers and communicating needed changes, and establishing an enterprise-wide base of knowledge.Behind the scenes a cloud of informational technology creates a computational infrastructure for systems and data. Systems integration is the backbone that allows disparate software toolsets to communicate with each other. It also supports the sharing of domain knowledge throughout the lifecycle. Information security measures are in place (again utilizing AI) to detect vulnerabilities. Embedded and augmented systems and data analytics help assess network performance and assure its reliability.The velocity of change is increasing. While Spirit strives for a lasting ecosystem for aerosystem production, we also need to rapidly recover from disruptions caused by innovation­ some which we may instigate through our own applied research. A sound governance approach for technology change that forecasts technology developments and monitors technology, engineering, and manufacturing readiness is imperative to our ability to maintain optimal performance of our production system and recover quickly from disruptive events. FROM CONCEPTUALIZATION IN THE LAB TO CONSTRUCTION IN THE FACTORY, AI IS MAKING ALL THINGS KNOWLEDGEABLEDr. John Huffman
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