08.09.24
| 4 min read
When you’re a tiered supplier for the largest aerospace manufacturer in the world, quality and timing are everything. The ability to deliver high-quality mission-critical components and keep up with production is a make-or-break. When your industry partners, such as heat treaters, fail to uphold those quality and delivery standards, it directly impacts your reputation and ability to compete.
Recently, we partnered with an aerospace tiered supplier who was experiencing those exact challenges with their previous heat treater. Not only had late deliveries become the norm, but they were regularly discovering quality issues. Another limiting factor was the geographic proximity of the heat treater. Without a local partner, the supplier lacked the ability to rectify order issues in a timely manner.
Through a dedicated partnership and leveraging our innovative datagineering approach, we were able to help the supplier bolster their supply chain and, in turn, offer greater supply chain security to Boeing. And, as a result, the customer was able to carve a strong, lasting position for themselves in the market.
Background
The customer is a large supplier headquartered in Cleveland, OH that produces high-performance clamping and coupling components required to perform under high temperatures. In 2021, after years of severe delivery challenges caused by their previous heat treater, they’d finally had enough.
Switching to a new supplier and localizing their supply chain would help them keep up with production needs and reduce supply chain risk and cost. They recognized Paulo as an innovative heat treating partner and began working with our Cleveland facility to help us acquire the Boeing approvals they needed.
As a leader in thermal processing, we specialize in advanced heat treatment solutions that cater to various high-precision applications. After more than eighty years of heat treating, Paulo has earned a reputation as a renowned provider of commercial and defense aerospace and aviation heat treating services.
Approval Challenges
The customer faced significant challenges in helping Paulo become a Boeing-approved heat treatment partner. Not only is Boeing’s approval process known for its rigor and complexity, but this was at a time when Boeing was working to condense their approved supplier list. They had no intentions of adding any additional suppliers in the near future and, for these reasons, were resistant to considering bringing Paulo into the fold.
The Collaborative Process
As our sponsor, the supplier remained persistent in helping us become a Boeing-approved facility. They advocated for Paulo’s capabilities and in return we made our team and facility available throughout the entire process. Paulo’s entire team, including National Sales Manager Dustin Lawhon, engineers, quality assurance specialists, and project managers, were made available to help demonstrate our advanced capabilities to comply with Boeing’s standards. This collaborative spirit laid the foundation for a successful partnership.
It took nearly two years for Boeing to begin the considering Paulo for approval and following a comprehensive multi-day audit, our Cleveland plant was approved for several critical Boeing specifications, including:
- BAC5613 for heat treatment of titanium and titanium alloys
- BAC5616 for heat treatment of nickel-based and cobalt-based alloys
- BAC5619 for heat treatment of corrosion-resistant steel
A total of twelve furnaces were included in each of these approvals, each of which operates 24/7. This significantly increased the total capacity of furnaces that are qualified to these specifications in the aerospace industry and also gave us enough redundancy to ensure that unplanned downtime never impacts delivery.
A Partnership Worth Celebrating
The successful collaboration between Paulo and the aerospace manufacturer highlights the power of strategic partnerships in creating a stronger supply chain. The Senior Buyer who led the charge said, “Paulo is the Greatest Supplier I have EVER worked with! Quality Service! Amazing lead times. Great communication! The Paulo Team is absolutely Phenomenal!!”
Since earning the Boeing approval in 2023, Paulo has become a trusted supplier for the manufacturer and has consistently delivered high-quality, fast heat treating for more than 400 Boeing part numbers with stringent specifications.
