“To Reindustrialize France, We Must Give Real Authority Back to Plant Managers”

And Will Operations Keep Up?

Episode 1 – Keeping the Pace: How to Succeed with Aerospace Ramp-Ups in a Pressured Ecosystem

Aerospace & Defense: How to Maintain Pace in a Stressed Ecosystem

By Ghalem Allai, Project Director at OPEO

In this first episode of our series “And Will Operations Keep Up?”, Ghalem Allai, Project Director at OPEO and head of the Aerospace & Defense sector, reflects on a challenge that’s always been part of the industry but is now more critical than ever: ramping up production in a fragile industrial ecosystem.

Why is ramp-up such a recurring issue in aerospace?

Because the aerospace industry goes through recurring industrial cycles—every 5 to 10 years with major ramp-up phases. The sector depends on a highly interdependent ecosystem. That’s its strength but also its vulnerability.

Today’s ramp-up is exceptional. It comes on the heels of a COVID-driven crisis that severely impacted both the financial and operational capacity of the industry. What’s more, it affects both civil and military programs at the same time something never seen before on platforms like the A320 or Rafale.

Is lack of investment the main constraint?

No, that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Of course, funding is needed for equipment, buildings, WIP, and inventory. But as Ghalem Allai emphasizes, the core issue is organizational agility.

Many companies are not yet equipped to absorb constant fluctuations in the supply chain. Performance gaps typically appear in three key areas:

• Operational systems: demand filtering, planning, execution
• Skills and talent: hiring, training, retaining the right profiles
• Managing complexity: adapting without creating rigid flows

What are the priority steps to win the production race?

Return to fundamentals: supply management, flow architecture, and reliable steering

Master data: structure it, secure it, use it to steer dynamically

Optimize the system: focus on competitiveness, productivity, and ramp-down readiness

A Collective Challenge, Not Just a Technical One

For OPEO, succeeding in this kind of transformation is not about fixing a single weak link. It means rebuilding a shared dynamic creating organizations capable of operating in uncertainty and aligning complex flows in real time.

📅 Want to discuss your industrial challenges with Ghalem Allai?

Book a meeting [here)

▶️ Watch the full interview on YouTube

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Lire la tribune complète dans L’Express.