Hi,
No---not in the sense that you are stating----pakistan is not manufacturing the boeing parts in the way you are representing.
Boeing has given pakistan the templates---the machines are similiar or the same that boeing was using in the U S---computer programs are boeings----only the operators are pakistanis who have been trained.
The machines are computer controlled---station gets the order----feeds the specs into the computer---the material is supplied by boeing or its vendor---only thing we are offering is less expensive labour.
Dear Sir,
On the risk of sounding biased, it is a tremendous achievement. If anyone has any industrial experience, he will understand that its not simply feeding a CAD/CAM file into a CNC (computer numerical controlled) machine to fabricate an an industrial article. It needs a lot of raw material and fabrication expertise to be able to compete with western counter-parts.
To be selected to be OEM (original equipment manufacturing) partner of any industry, much less an aerospace industry, so prestigious and renowned as Boeing, one has to outperform its industrial rivals in following areas of expertise (which IMHO is no child's play).
1. First you have to hit the marks spot on their tensile testing test-beds for prototype articles. (read: quality)
2. Then you have replicate a small batch production and prove that your tolerance levels are better than others. (read: consistency)
3. Then you have to prove that you can produce the set numbers of articles in a given time-frame. (read: production rate)
4. Then you have to present yourself as a stable and trustworthy supplier (e.g: ISO certifications, of which 9001 and 14001 are just the beginning, aerospace certification are much much tougher)
5. Then you have to out-bid everyone else in the world who has been doing the same for the last 100 years, and already has the equipment, training and skilled labor. (read: economic viability)
And if you think that just owning a particular number of CNC machines and getting your crew trained on them is enough, you are extremely mistaken.
Example: (I am going to praise India here so please bare with me)
India is way way ahead of us in technology market. They make and export Cars, components and what not. They have been trying to buy state of the art manufacturing plants and getting their manpower trained to produce products that are currently competing even Mercedes and BMW component manufacturers (OEM partners). But that was not always the case. In past decades, they were only able to produce crappy cars and parts which didn't even fulfill criterion number one (Quality), but after decades and decades of efforts, they are now into mainstream market, and many of their companies are now OEM partners with many of the world industrial giants. How many of Pakistan's industries can compete with quality standards set in the west, i guess less than 10, or something similar.
Now consider this, India has been building aircrafts, engines and avionics for decades, even a long list of Russian aircrafts and its technology blue-prints have been purchased by India, and translated into English for the Indians. But still after decades of manufacturing, Russian aircrafts are not using India parts, even though Indian production lines are far Cheaper than Russian ones. The only reason might be Quality, Consistency, Production rate or all of the above.
Now compare that PAC-Kamra has managed to compete and outpurform US and European companies for parts that will be installed on aircrafts that are to be operated by US and Europeans themselves ...
Don't you think PAC must have done something extra-ordinary to win their trust ??
Regards,
Sapper
