Aerospace SME taking off like a rocket, symbolizing growth and technological advancement

Taking Flight: How to Boost Your Aerospace Business's Tech Capabilities

Elliot Brynn in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Unlock the secrets to bridging the technological gap and soaring to new heights in the aerospace industry."

In today's rapidly evolving global landscape, the aerospace industry demands constant innovation and adaptation. For Latin American companies, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Historically, industrialization in the region has relied on acquiring productive capacity through technology agreements with foreign companies. While this approach has facilitated some technological learning, it hasn't always led to complete technological independence.

The rise of globalization has intensified competition, leading to a decline in manufacturing activities and a decrease in the creation of national manufacturing companies across various sectors. To thrive in this environment, aerospace SMEs need to proactively develop their technological capabilities, bridging the gap between their current state and the demands of transnational corporations (TNCs).

This article delves into the critical steps and a mathematical model designed to assess and enhance the technological capabilities of aerospace SMEs, focusing on design (ICTD) and manufacturing (ICTM). By understanding and implementing these strategies, SMEs can position themselves as valuable partners in the global aerospace supply chain.

Assessing Your Current Capabilities: A Roadmap to Technological Advancement

Aerospace SME taking off like a rocket, symbolizing growth and technological advancement

The journey to enhanced technological capability begins with a thorough assessment of your current standing. This involves understanding your strengths and weaknesses in both design and manufacturing processes. A comprehensive evaluation helps identify areas where improvements are needed to meet the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry.

One effective method for assessing your capabilities is to adopt a model based on weighted variables, using factor analysis to pinpoint the technological capacities of your SME. Compare these capacities against the benchmarks required to become a supplier for transnational industries (TNCs). This comparison will highlight the specific areas that need attention and improvement.

Certification is Key: Obtain certifications such as AS 9000, NAP CAP, Belts, ISO, and Six Sigma to demonstrate your commitment to quality and industry standards.
Invest in Technology: Acquire the necessary software and update your equipment to reduce the technological gap and enhance your capabilities.
Cluster for Strength: Integrate with clusters of enterprises and SMEs to collectively strengthen technological capacities and foster collaboration.

The goal is to formulate a technological strategy grounded in a clear understanding of the correspondence between your available technological competencies and the competencies required by the industry. By diminishing the separation between your skills and those of large aerospace companies, you can unlock opportunities to supply goods and services within the sector.

Bridging the Gap: Strategies for SMEs

The development and level of technological capability must align with your company's characteristics, sector orientation, and manufacturing strategy. Recognizing the different types of technological gaps and implementing targeted strategies to address their origins is crucial for success. By conducting a thorough analysis of your capabilities and creating a comparative table like QFD (Quality Function Deployment), you can identify the specific areas needing improvement.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3926/jiem.2669, Alternate LINK

Title: Tools To Measure The Technological Capabilities Of The Aerospace Industry

Subject: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Journal: Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management

Publisher: Omnia Publisher SL

Authors: Acela Castillón-Barraza, Alvaro González-Angeles, Fernando Lara-Chavez, Ismael Mendoza-Muñoz

Published: 2018-11-14

Everything You Need To Know

What are the primary steps for aerospace SMEs to improve their technological capabilities?

Aerospace SMEs should begin by assessing their current capabilities in design (ICTD) and manufacturing (ICTM). A model based on weighted variables and factor analysis can help pinpoint technological capacities. SMEs must then compare these capacities to the benchmarks required by transnational corporations (TNCs). Certifications like AS 9000 and others, investing in necessary software and updated equipment, and integrating with clusters of enterprises are crucial steps. The ultimate goal is to align available technological competencies with industry requirements, reducing the gap between the SME's skills and those of larger aerospace companies.

Why is obtaining certifications so important for aerospace SMEs?

Certifications such as AS 9000, NAP CAP, Belts, ISO, and Six Sigma demonstrate an aerospace SME's commitment to quality and industry standards. These certifications are essential for validating an SME's manufacturing and design capabilities, instilling confidence in potential customers, especially transnational corporations (TNCs). Certifications provide a standardized framework for quality control, ensuring that SMEs can meet the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry, which is vital for securing contracts and participating in the global supply chain.

How can aerospace SMEs assess their current technological capabilities effectively?

Aerospace SMEs can effectively assess their current technological capabilities by adopting a model based on weighted variables, using factor analysis. This method helps pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in both design (ICTD) and manufacturing (ICTM) processes. A comprehensive evaluation allows SMEs to compare their technological capacities against the benchmarks set by transnational corporations (TNCs), highlighting specific areas needing improvement. The use of tools like QFD (Quality Function Deployment) can further aid in this assessment by identifying areas needing improvement.

What role does globalization play in the aerospace industry for SMEs, and how can they thrive?

Globalization has intensified competition in the aerospace industry, leading to a decline in manufacturing activities and the creation of national manufacturing companies. For Latin American aerospace SMEs, this presents both challenges and opportunities. To thrive, SMEs must proactively develop their technological capabilities, specifically in design (ICTD) and manufacturing (ICTM), bridging the gap with transnational corporations (TNCs). This includes obtaining certifications like AS 9000, investing in technology, and integrating with clusters. By aligning their competencies with industry standards, SMEs can position themselves as valuable partners in the global supply chain.

Can you explain the importance of the ICTD and ICTM in enhancing an aerospace SME's capabilities and give an example?

ICTD (design) and ICTM (manufacturing) are critical areas for improving an aerospace SME's technological capabilities. A strong ICTD enables SMEs to create innovative designs, while robust ICTM ensures these designs are efficiently and effectively manufactured. For example, an SME might invest in advanced CAD software (ICTD) to improve its design capabilities and then acquire modern CNC machines (ICTM) to enhance its manufacturing processes. Improving in these areas will help to reduce the technological gap between an SME and transnational corporations (TNCs), making the SME a more competitive player in the aerospace supply chain. Furthermore, assessing these areas of an SME's technological capacity can be achieved through weighted variables using factor analysis.