QR_ for civil aerospace

Quantifying engineering efficiency is hard... but not impossible.

The industry needs more skilled engineers, and to better retain those it has. But to bridge the immediate gap, smarter deployment of existing resource is a must.

PDM: Product Data Management

Data is one of the most strategic assets any organisation has: the lifeblood of the business. Design-led companies hire great engineers and designers; they rarely hire for PDM. The result is a 'data quality tax' that sees more than 80% of complex product programmes run late or over budget. PDM is the discipline that makes the tax avoidable.

Processes

  • BOM validation and verification
  • Change, release and configuration management
  • Master data strategy and governance
  • Always-on quality checks at point of change

Roles and skills

  • Dedicated PDM practitioners, not a sub-function of engineering
  • Clear data stewardship and accountability
  • PDM Academy training and professional qualification
  • Hands-on NPD and PLM practitioners across sectors

Enabling tools

  • Software-agnostic integrations across PLM, ERP and MES
  • AI-augmented BOM checks and validation
  • Automation at point of change authorship
Spotlight #1

Deep dive: Configuration management.

Change is inevitable. Control is optional. Robust configuration management keeps product data valid, traceable, and compliant from concept to disposal; connecting silos, protecting the safety case, and getting engineers back to engineering. Done well, it shifts from compliance overhead to strategic enabler. Here's how QR_ approaches it.

Civil aerospace practice leadership

Meet the team

Paul Crabtree

Director, UK

LinkedIn ↗

Paul joined Quick Release_ after a lengthy period at university. Starting out as a data analyst in 2011, Paul has grown with the company (figuratively, not literally unfortunately) and now looks after operations in the UK. In his early days he worked on process and system development within some of our OEM clients.

More recently he worked on accelerated programmes, most notably the UK Ventilator Challenge and Project Siren, a joint venture between Ford and Venari to bring a new ambulance to the market from concept to finished vehicle in 12 months.

Claire Gibson

Head of UK ADS Practice

LinkedIn ↗

Claire joined QR_ in 2014 and has progressed through to leadership from a trainee project analyst, now supporting QR_'s Aerospace and Defence engagements and relationships in addition to her broader leadership responsibilities.

Passionate about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Claire helps drive various changes to ensure QR_ moves in the right direction as well as sharing wider within the industry.

Jon Chou

Business Leader, California

LinkedIn ↗

Jon came to Quick Release_ from Foxconn in 2024 where he was leading the Apple engagement among others. He brings years of PM, supply chain, and manufacturing experience with an emphasis on commercial business negotiations and business strategy.

Currently, he is the Business Unit Owner for Quick Release_'s US West BU. The direction, growth, and financial health of the BU fall on him. He is also focused on upskilling members of his team as the perimeter of the unit expands and additional clients come into play. Jon places a strong emphasis on tying the goals of his team in with the overall business strategy of Quick Release_ in the US.

Based out of the Irvine, California office, Jon takes advantage of the sunny weather out on the West Coast. He has three dogs and is frequently hiking on the weekends and spending time with his significant other. He also has a passion for automobiles, all things tech, and the culinary arts.

William Smith

Business Leader, UK ADS Practice

LinkedIn ↗

Having left University in 2016 with an Astrophysics Master's degree, Will has worked his way through the ranks at QR_ and is now part of the ADS leadership team.

Will also runs the Product Use Case workstream within QR_, looking to improve the external facing content the Company is able to produce, and provide a platform for everyone to contribute to company growth.

Simon Henley

Senior Advisor, ADS

LinkedIn ↗

Simon is a senior advisor to QR_'s ADS practice, bringing a history of leadership in defence and the aviation and aerospace industries.

Luke Logan

Senior Advisor, ADS

LinkedIn ↗

Luke is an experienced Engineering & Technology Director and Chief Engineer with over 35 years of industrial experience spanning the Aerospace, Defence, Power & Industrial Sectors. His experience was built mainly with Rolls-Royce plc (28yrs) but also with BAE Systems Air Sector and Weir Group. Luke left corporate life in 2022 and has now built a portfolio of advisory and consultancy roles that help businesses and academic institutions transform or grow their impact.

Luke has been an advisor with Quick Release_ since 2022 as he genuinely believes we have something really unique, valuable and potentially disruptive to offer across all sectors and throughout the product lifecycle. Luke's an active Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Institute of Mechanical Engineers and Royal Aeronautical Society.

Paul Cotton

Senior Advisor, Civil Aerospace

LinkedIn ↗

Paul is a senior advisor to Quick Release_'s Civil Aerospace Practice. With 25 years of Aerospace engineering expertise from Rolls-Royce, he brings that specific Aerospace flavour, coaching organisations to be even better through digitalisation of product data and aligned and connected Enterprise Systems. Paul is an independent consultant focused on delivering zero emissions flight.

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