Introducing new products will be a key activity for the global supply chain business.

"There are a number of new market opportunities on the horizon - such as the next-generation 150-seat airliner in civil aerospace, and fuel cells in energy - that we will only be able to target if we have an agile and integrated global supply chain that maximises the capability of our suppliers," said Colin Smith, Director - Engineering and Technology.

The Global Supply Chain organisation will promote a strong engagement between the customer business requirements and the operational and purchasing activities - and an earlier injection of suppliers' specialist skills - through integrated product teams for component design and development.

"While the realignment we have made has so far only affected our UK operations, the business we are in is very much a global one, and we plan to extend the Global Supply Chain organisation to our US and German operations during the course of 2007," Mike Lloyd concluded.

There are a number of new market
opportunities on the horizon -
such as fuel cells in energy