FutureWorks: Pioneering digital innovation

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Located in the heart of British aerospace innovation in Bristol, UK, our FutureWorks facility is at the forefront of revolutionising manufacturing and skills for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme and wider industry.

What is our vision for a digital future?

At FutureWorks, we are advancing toward a vision of a ‘paperless factory’, aiming to embed digital solutions throughout our production processes.

With a key focus on advanced technologies and capabilities across propulsion and integrated power systems, the facility is driving a shift from traditional production methods to a cutting-edge digital environment that aims to streamline processes, reduce costs and develop skills needed for the future of engineering.

Rolls-Royce’s FutureWorks is not only transforming current production processes but also fostering a culture of continuous innovation. By integrating new technologies, FutureWorks is helping to shape the future of aerospace manufacturing, ensuring Rolls-Royce remains at the forefront of industry advancements.

How is Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) delivering benefits?

One of the most exciting advancements at FutureWorks is the integration of Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM). ALM allows our teams to produce custom tooling rapidly and onsite, cutting down on waste, costs and delays that occur when there is a need to source tools for specific elements of a project.

The team are also experimenting with ALM to recycle on-site waste materials. Although this work is still under development, such efforts reflect our commitment to sustainable practices and the ability to ‘trial and error’ novel ideas.

What innovative digital engineering technologies are being adopted?

The FutureWorks facility provides a dynamic space for teams to explore innovative digital solutions to help build more seamless, future-ready processes. SMART tools and control systems are also being trialled to replace traditional paper-based systems, helping to track equipment and processes with real-time accuracy for better efficiency.

Augmented and virtual reality

By leveraging digital tools like Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), our engineers and designers can collaborate more effectively, capture critical insights earlier in the design process and improve communication across the supply chain, reducing the risks of errors and delay in manufacturing.

Harnessing advanced digital technologies

As the facility continues to evolve, FutureWorks will be utilised for other digital technologies such as Digital Twins, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and OpsCentre, which help manage, instruct and track production processes, helping us and our industry prepare for a digital future.

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