Today, the Pune manufacturing facility of GE Aerospace marked a decade of operations, commemorating a significant milestone in the company’s forty-year presence in the Indian aviation sector. Over the last ten years, Pune has developed into a center for producing commercial jet engine components and advanced manufacturing skill development, having trained over 5,000 production associates through various apprenticeship and training programs. Amol Nagar, Executive Director of Global Manufacturing Operations & Supply Chain at GE Aerospace, stated, “When we started this factory, we did not have an aero-engine ecosystem here in Pune. Ten years later, we have not only established a world-class manufacturing skill base but also contributed to the broader aerospace sector.
I am proud of the strides we have made in developing local capacity for high-value manufacturing and skill development in Maharashtra.” The Pune facility manufactures components for CFM’s LEAP, GEnx, and GE9X engines, which are utilized in factories across the globe to fulfill rising customer demands. The facility’s achievements are driven by FLIGHT DECK, GE Aerospace’s exclusive lean operating model that emphasizes safety, quality, and efficiency. By implementing FLIGHT DECK and incorporating over 1,000 suggestions from employees on the production floor, the facility has minimized waste, improved process efficiency, and enhanced output while boosting shop-floor safety. A new model line for a crucial component has resulted in shorter lead times, increased productivity with the same workforce, and reduced downtime.
This line now produces more than double the parts thanks to numerous enhancements made over six quarters. Vishwajit Singh, Managing Director of the Pune Manufacturing Facility, remarked, “Components from Pune supply our global factories where they are used to manufacture CFM’s LEAP, GEnx, and GE9X engines. We are proud to support our customers worldwide and meet their growing demands using our FLIGHT DECK proprietary lean operations model, with a strong emphasis on safety and quality.” Beyond production, the Pune facility has fostered a robust local aerospace workforce by training engineering talent in precision manufacturing.
Each year, new cohorts of diploma engineers receive a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training, ensuring they meet the highest aerospace manufacturing safety and quality standards. GE Aerospace also supports part-time graduate engineering programs, cultivating a skilled group of engineers. Currently, over 300 engineers are employed at the Pune facility, while many others are positively influencing India’s aerospace industry. Environmental responsibility is a key feature of the Pune facility, which holds ISO14001 and ISO45001 certifications and sources 30% of its power from renewable energy.