IFS, the leading enterprise cloud and Industrial AI software provider, today announced that Aero Vodochody Aerospace (Aero), the largest aircraft manufacturer in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest aircraft manufacturers in the world, has selected IFS in order to leverage the leading ERP solution, IFS Cloud, to drive process optimization and increase throughput in the highly-competitive aerospace sector.

By adopting IFS Cloud in conjunction with the Siemens product lifecycle management (PLM) solution, Teamcenter, the Czech Republic based company aims to transition towards paperless production and assembly, leveraging advanced shopfloor digital twin technology and visualization tools. These solutions will empower users on the shop floor with digital work instructions and streamline approval processes across key operations.

Additionally, the implementation of IFS Cloud, in tandem with Teamcenter, will enable the standardization of processes, aligning with industry best practices. This holistic approach is designed to optimize production efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure consistent quality across all operations.

"We are making one of the largest IT investments in Aero's history. We are acquiring the best of the best in the world of enterprise software solutions and at the same time introducing a system for product lifecycle management. This significant investment is a key step towards digitalization, future growth and increased competitiveness of our company," said Viktor Sotona, Chairman of the Board and President of Aero. "The implementation of cutting-edge IT systems represents a major step in the management of all processes and the digitalization of production. It will bring significant improvements in all key areas – from product development, through planning and production to the supply chain. We are deploying systems that enable Industry 4.0 management."

Moving forwards, the new solution built from tightly integrated ERP and PLM will form a solid and flexible digital backbone for all Aero's operations. That includes the development, design, and manufacture of their own aircraft, the development of components and composite parts for other aircraft manufacturers, and the maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft.

Marek Głazowski, Managing Director at IFS, added: "We are thrilled to be supporting Aero on their transformation journey. The company has a well-established heritage in a complex industry that we are proud to have a deep understanding of. We look forward to partnering with Aero to achieve value fast and accelerate their growth through simplifying and upgrading legacy systems with state-of-the-art ERP and PLM systems from IFS and Siemens."

"We are excited to be partnering with Aero on this important digital transformation journey," said Pavel Rozsypal, Account Orchestrator at Siemens. "Our advanced PLM solutions, combined with IFS Cloud's ERP capabilities, will empower Aero to not only enhance their production workflows but also accelerate their innovation cycles, helping them maintain a competitive edge in the global aerospace market."

The Czech division of IFS platinum partner, InfoConsulting, will roll out the complete solution across Aero's site in the Czech Republic. Once fully implemented, there are expected to be almost 900 full users of the IFS Cloud solution, together with more than 900 shop floors users. There will also be over 700 users of the Siemens PLM solution across Aero's R&D, manufacturing and production departments, covering the whole product lifecycle process. Siemens Teamcenter offers a robust, integrated platform that seamlessly connects Aero's diverse engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain processes.

"At InfoConsulting, we are proud to play a pivotal role in bringing this integrated solution to life for Aero Vodochody Aerospace. As a platinum partner of IFS, we bring deep expertise in implementing these solutions and are confident that this project will significantly enhance Aero's operational efficiency and future-proof their business," said Jozef Kováčik, Managing Director at InfoConsulting Czech.