Rolls-Royce awards Hanwha Aerospace parts supplier certification
Hanwha Aerospace has received the first Product Part Approval Process (PPAP) certification in the world from Rolls-Royce, one of the top three global aircraft engine manufacturers.
Established in 1884, Rolls-Royce is a UK-based aircraft engine manufacturer that, together with Pratt & Whitney and GE in the US, form the world’s top three engine makers.
The certification authorizes Hanwha Aerospace to perform PPAP inspections to verify that newly built aircraft engine parts meet requisite standards of quality. With the certification, Hanwha will also be able to approve the inspected engines for mass production.
Rolls-Royce’s Level 1 certification applies to Hanwha’s manufacturing plants in Korea and Vietnam. Level 1 is the highest certification that Rolls-Royce issues its partner suppliers of aircraft engine components.
Warrick Matthews, chief procurement officer at Rolls-Royce, says: “We are very pleased to see Hanwha Aerospace, one of our major suppliers, receive this certification.
“This qualification reflects Hanwha Aerospace’s consistently high performance as a supplier and the commitment to zero defects.”
Hyung-wook Nam, managing director of production at Hanwha Aerospace, says: “Hanwha Aerospace is the first supplier in the world to receive this certification.
“This achievement was made possible thanks to our high quality standards, the manufacturing expertise we’ve honed for over 40 years, and the dedication of our workforce.”
Nam adds: “Manufacturing parts for aircraft engines requires precision processing of difficult-to-machine materials such as nickel and titanium, which are subjected to up to 1,400 degrees of heat.
“Suppliers who manufacture these parts must therefore be equipped with cutting-edge technologies and a quality control system that enables them to manage a margin of error as small as a hundredth of the thickness of a human hair.”
Hanwha Aerospace’s relationship with Rolls-Royce dates back to 1984, when the company collaborated with the engine maker on military engine and depot maintenance projects.
The partnership between the two companies has steadily strengthened over the years, with Rolls-Royce utilizing Hanwha-developed engine cases and modules to manufacture a variety of engines, including its state-of-the-art Trent series civil aircraft engines.
The PPAP certification further underscores Hanwha Aerospace’s role as a strategic global partner of Rolls-Royce. After receiving Rolls-Royce’s Best Supplier Award in 2018, in 2019, the company secured an agreement worth approximately $1 billion, or KRW 1.2 trillion, to supply the UK-based engine manufacturer with new components.
Hanwha Aerospace is also continuing to build its partnerships with the other top engine makers: Pratt & Whitney and GE. In 2015, Hanwha signed a deal with Pratt & Whitney to become a risk and revenue sharing partner in the manufacturing of the PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine.
One of the keys to Hanwha Aerospace’s success has been its consistency: its consistent investment in innovations, as well as the consistent quality and reliability of its engine components.