Acquiring new production technology is not just a matter of price and supplier selection. For a complex investment project, it is necessary to coordinate the technical specifications, commercial and contractual terms, preparation of production facilities, installation, servicing, and commissioning of the equipment. Tomáš Rudolský, an experienced manager at BM4U, shared his experience managing capital purchases totaling approximately 135 million CZK in the demanding environment of aerospace manufacturing.
A manufacturing company operating in the aerospace industry needed to modernize its machinery and acquire technologies that would support the expansion of production and the acquisition of new contracts. “I was responsible for capital purchases. The technical specifications were prepared by engineers, who were also accountable for them. My job was to review the specifications so that they would serve as an accurate and functional basis for the bidding process, enable us to receive competitive bids, and not be written specifically for just one supplier,” says Tomáš Rudolský.
In managing these projects, it was necessary to integrate four key perspectives: technical, business, contractual, and operational. Therefore, the investment could not be viewed merely as the purchase of a machine, but rather as a comprehensive project in which the individual components were directly interlinked.
From Proper Specification to Stable Operation
One of the key projects was the acquisition of automated riveting technology. However, it was not merely a matter of selecting a machine and a supplier. The project also involved assessing service options, negotiating contract terms, preparing the existing production hall, designing a new foundation, and safely transporting the heavy equipment to the site.
“I divided theinvestment management processinto six sequential steps. We began by defining the scope of work and production requirements, followed by a competitive bidding process and the selection of a contractor, contract finalization, and the establishment of milestones, preparing the worksite, arranging transportation and installation of the equipment, and finally coordinating the installation, preparing training, and conducting the testing phase and production trials. The goal was to manage the investment as a whole, not merely as the purchase of a machine. “With complex technology, it is necessary to align the technical specifications, commercial terms, contract, logistics, site preparation, and subsequent commissioning,” explains Tomáš Rudolský.
When selecting a supplier, the purchase price was not the only deciding factor. Service options, deadlines, contractual obligations, and—above all—the supplier’s ability to actually install, commission, and provide long-term support for the technology played an important role.
The most challenging part was preparing the space for the technology in the older production hall
One of the most challenging parts of the project was preparing the installation site for the heavy equipment in the existing production hall. In collaboration with a structural engineer, it was necessary to design an appropriate concrete foundation and, at the same time, ensure the safe transport, unloading, and relocation of the equipment to its designated location. The installation was followed by final adjustments, a trial phase, and production tests designed to verify the technology’s functionality under real-world operating conditions.
“The success was primarily due to close collaboration between purchasing, the technical departments, production, the LEAN team, and experts on the supplier’s side. Without this interdisciplinary collaboration, it would not have been possible to complete the project safely and properly,” adds Tomáš Rudolský.
The Investment Supported a Major Contract
The project enabled the company to continue working on a major contract and strengthened its ability to implement specific technologies in a short time. The benefits included not only the acquisition of new production equipment but also the creation of conditions for its safe commissioning, the provision of service support, and its long-term use in production.
The successful completion of the project also helped enhance the company’s reputation as a reliable supplier in the aviation industry, capable of managing technically and organizationally demanding investment projects.