Reducing Lead Time Pressure in Aerospace Manufacturing
Meeting deadlines in aerospace manufacturing is non-negotiable. A single delay can disrupt programs, trigger costly penalties, or damage hard-earned reputations. For East/West Industries – a supplier of safety-critical seating systems to OEMs like Boeing and for defense contracts – every job must land on time.
So when a critical forming tool was found damaged days before production, they didn’t panic. They printed a new one.
A Broken Tool, a Risky Delay
The project required a complex steel forming die. With their internal CNC machines fully booked and lead times from external suppliers stretching to eight weeks, East/West faced a real risk of missing the customer’s deadline.
Waiting wasn’t an option – and neither was reshuffling the machine shop at the expense of other jobs.
A 3D Printed Die, Ready in Days
Instead of manufacturing a replacement tool conventionally, East/West used their Fortus 450mc™ industrial 3D printer to create a full-size forming die using carbon-fiber-reinforced FDM Nylon 12CF.
- Lead time cut by 87%
- Tool ready in less than 1 week
- Cost reduced by 80% compared to outsourcing
Despite the complex geometry, the printed tool performed flawlessly – eliminating hours of CNC programming and enabling uninterrupted production.
A Smarter Way to Handle Tooling
This wasn’t a lucky workaround. It was the result of a strategic investment in industrial additive manufacturing.
As their business grew, East/West’s CNC shop became a bottleneck – not just for parts, but for internal tooling like soft jaws and fixtures. Rather than buying another CNC machine, they invested in a high-capability 3D printer.
Since then, they’ve used it to:
- Print soft jaws and workholding tools overnight
- Produce design validation models for engineers and machinists
- Check part fit using printed surrogates from customer CAD
- Create ergonomic aids to improve accessibility for workers
In each case, the Fortus 450mc freed up CNC resources, accelerated delivery, and enabled smarter decisions across departments.
The Result: More Capacity, Less Risk
With additive manufacturing now embedded in their production workflow, East/West can react faster, reduce downtime, and improve first-time quality for their customers. They’re not just printing tools – they’re buying time, reducing risk, and strengthening performance.
Want the Full Breakdown?
The full case study explains how East/West transformed their approach to tooling with additive manufacturing – complete with timelines, cost comparisons, and real production results.
Download the Case Study to learn how they achieved faster turnaround, smarter workflows, and measurable return on investment.
