Progresstech Ukraine, a provider of services for the aerospace industry, opened 92 new engineering positions in January-May. It is expected that the number will exceed 100 by the end of 2025. The list of vacancies is dominated by process engineer positions, which is due to the current demand for the company’s services in aircraft construction technologies.

One factor that indirectly generates additional work for technologists is a number of recent decisions by regulatory authorities in civil aviation, primarily the FAA and EASA. Aviation regulators significantly increased quality control requirements for aircraft production and flight safety. The changes are forcing aviation industry leaders to modernize approaches to organizing production, which affects, in particular, the segment of services for engineering support of technological processes.

Aircraft manufacturers’ programs aimed at improving aircraft safety include, in particular, the following areas:

• Improving quality culture in production

Using Human Machine Interface, error protection tools (poka-yoke), and updated Standard Operating Procedures, which provide step-by-step, detailed actions to minimize the risk of errors at all stages of production.

• Timely detection and elimination of defects

Optimizing technological processes using systemic analysis of root causes of errors: Root Cause Analysis, 5 Whys, and Fishbone. Applying Statistical Process Control techniques that identify potential deviations before they affect the safety or functionality of the product.

• Formalizing and simplifying production processes

Unifying technical documentation (route sheets, operational maps) for similar procedures. Using Value Stream Mapping and SIPOC (Supplier, Input, Process, Output, Customer) tools to visualize, describe, analyze, and streamline processes at all stages – from receiving raw materials and components to delivering aircraft to customers.

• Deepening the digitalization of production

Integration Product Lifecycle Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, and Manufacturing Execution System create a single loop that encompasses business processes at the input, output, and within a large aircraft manufacturing corporation.

While many manufacturing transformation tasks require involving IT professionals, the role of process engineers is crucial, especially at the intersection of manufacturing and digital platforms.

Another factor driving demand for manufacturing technology services is the aviation industry’s increased attention on using composites.

New materials enable creating structural elements with predetermined properties: strength, thermal stability, resistance to pressure, corrosion, etc. Composites make it possible to lower an aircraft’s weight, decrease fuel consumption, and reduce harmful emissions.

Ultimately, both trends expand process engineers’ responsibilities and actualize their contribution to modernizing production processes. At the same time, there is a growing need for specialists in technological support of production who are able to combine classical competencies with skills in digital analysis, adaptation, and modeling of the technological environment.