Building the future: How Bombardier’s NX transition is shaping aerospace innovation
Bombardier has long been synonymous with cutting-edge business aviation, designing some of the most advanced jets in the world. Recently, the company joined NX Student Day 2024 to share an exciting update: they’re making a “fast lane transition” to Siemens NX, signaling a major shift in their engineering processes. But what does this mean, and why does it matter to aspiring engineers?
Why NX?
Making the leap from CATIA to NX wasn’t a decision Bombardier made lightly. It’s part of their strategy to meet the increasing complexity of modern aerospace design while staying ahead of industry demands.
Pascal Bedard, a PLM business architect and senior specialist at Bombardier, explained that openness was a turning point for them. “We see curiosity about our journey on Bombardier, and that’s why we’re doing this. The biggest why is really the openness of Teamcenter, the openness to be able to collaborate, without forcing our suppliers to connect to a specific platform,” he said during the event.
This openness is especially important in the aerospace industry, where the cost of developing a new aircraft is staggering, and the level of technology on board is more advanced than ever. Bombardier’s adoption of NX and Teamcenter is designed to optimize efficiency across the entire development lifecycle, from managing data to building comprehensive digital twins.
“To be able to develop a new aircraft we need to be much more efficient, and the level of technology and complexity that are on board is another level with the constraints of sustainability,” Pascal noted. “NX CAD is one core component of this puzzle, alongside model-based systems engineering, requirements management and change control.”
A partnership with academia
Bombardier isn’t just transforming its tools—it’s also shaping the future of aerospace talent. Recognizing the importance of NX proficiency in their workforce, Bombardier is collaborating with universities and schools in the Toronto and Montreal areas to ensure students graduate with the skills they need.
Pascal emphasized that this partnership benefits both the company and the aspiring engineers. “Each time we’re hiring someone that doesn’t have any experience, we’ll need to train them. It’s a big investment on the Bombardier side to be able to get them ready to participate in the development of the aircraft. So, this is something that we’re doing to influence the market as well, to support the future of our product development.”
“Each time we’re hiring someone that doesn’t have any experience, we’ll need to train them. It’s a big investment on the Bombardier side to be able to get them ready to participate in the development of the aircraft. So, this is something that we’re doing to influence the market as well, to support the future of our product development.”
Through these efforts, Bombardier is ensuring that the next generation of engineers is equipped to tackle real-world challenges in the aerospace industry.
What this means for students
For students looking to stand out in a competitive job market, gaining experience with NX offers a significant advantage. The NX Student Edition provides free access to the same tools that Bombardier and other industry leaders use, making it easier than ever to build job-ready skills.
Pascal’s message was clear: “[Knowledge of NX] is definitely something we are going to seek, because it’s something that would facilitate contributions from engineers starting on day one.”
NX: More than software
Bombardier’s transition to NX embraces a mindset of openness and collaboration that drives innovation. The ability to seamlessly integrate CAD, PLM and other tools enables teams to focus on solving engineering challenges rather than battling compatibility issues.
For Bombardier, this shift is critical as they navigate the demands of sustainability and technological complexity in aerospace design. “Bombardier is a leader in sustainability,” Pascal explained. “We’re looking into NX for sustainability, because we have to manage the substances that we are putting on our part. We need to track them, report on them and so on.
For graduate students seeking to expand their skill sets in sustainability, Siemens has also built a series of courses in collaboration with CU Boulder on Applied Sustainability for Technical Managers that you can register for today.
Your turn to innovate
The aerospace industry is evolving rapidly, and Bombardier’s journey with NX offers a glimpse into its future. Students and educators have the unique opportunity to align their skills with these industry shifts by downloading the NX Student Edition and exploring on-demand sessions from NX Student Day.
Whether you’re designing the next generation of aircraft or dreaming of a career in aerospace, now is the time to embrace the tools that will shape the future.
Ready to take the next step? Download the NX Student Edition for free and watch NX Student Day 2024 on-demand to learn how NX is revolutionizing aerospace engineering and preparing students for tomorrow’s challenges.
