http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/06_10_03_a380_delays_company_restructuring_plan.html
Airbus confirms further A380 delay and launches company
restructuring plan
3 October 2006
Airbus has informed its A380 customers about a further delay in the
delivery schedule of the A380. According to this revised plan, the
first A380 will be delivered in October 2007. Thirteen more will be
delivered in 2008 and 25 in 2009. The industrial ramp-up will be
completed in 2010, when 45 A380s are going to be delivered.
Fully aware of the impact this has on their development plans,
Airbus is in close contact with its customers and is doing its
utmost to find ways and means to alleviate the burden this
represents for them.
In June, the amount of work to be done to finalise the installation
of the electrical harnesses into the forward and rear section of
the fuselage had been underestimated. Beyond the complexity of the
cable installation, the root cause of the problem is the fact that
the 3D Digital Mock up, which facilitates the design of the
electrical harnesses installation, was implemented late and that
the people working on it were in their learning curve.
Under the leadership of the new Airbus President and CEO Christian
Streiff, strong measures have been taken, which, in addition to
management changes, include the implementation of the same proven
tools on all sites, as well as the creation of multi-national teams
to better use the best skills available. Simultaneously, training
is being organised to swiftly bring the employees using those tools
to the optimum level. With the right tools, the right people, the
right training and the right oversight and management being put in
place, the issue is now addressed at its root, although it will
take time until these measures bear fruit.
Furthermore, in order to regain its competitive edge and to counter
the financial impact of the delay as well as the weakening Dollar,
Airbus is launching the Power8 programme. The objective of the
programme is to reduce costs, save cash and develop new products
faster. The development cycle times are to be reduced by two years
while the overall productivity is to be increased by 20 per cent.
The programme aims at annual cost savings of at least 2 billion
from 2010 onwards and delivering some 5.0 billion in cumulative
cash savings by 2010.
Airbus will this year deliver around 430 aircraft, the highest
ever, with a plan to deliver even more next year. It currently has
an order-book of some 2,100 aircraft, filling the production lines
for the next 4.5 years. The measures here-above should allow Airbus
to even better satisfy its customers and be even more
competitive.
Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems
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It is a good thing it has this delay.. make sure the plane is all
ok before all delivery to their customers. And also this is the
opportunity for all Airports around the world to become "The A380
ready"....
Airbus A380 delays... but i think it goin to be forgotten once this
bird going to enter the services.
Good news is.. the airbus are getting the certification soon.. only
this "touch - ups" that cause the whole picture..
Well.. Hope This is going to be the last delay by Airbus..
