Digital Threads Take Flight: Aeronamic Bridges the Aerospace Data Divide

ANDOVER, Mass. – November 12, 2026 – In the high-stakes realm of aerospace manufacturing, the distance between a digital blueprint and a physical flight component is fraught with operational peril. A single misinterpretation of design intent on the factory floor can lead to costly material waste, delayed production schedules, or, in worst-case scenarios, grounded fleets. Today, Aras, a leading provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) and engineering AI solutions, announced that Dutch aerospace specialist Aeronamic is tackling this divide head-on.

Aeronamic, a critical supplier of advanced turbomachinery and engine-driven systems for commercial and defense aviation, has expanded its use of Aras Innovator by adopting the Aras Digital Manufacturing Engineering accelerator. The move makes the Netherlands-based manufacturer the first European customer to subscribe to this specific module, signaling a broader industry shift toward end-to-end digital continuity.

For a company that supplies mission-critical systems to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Airbus, Boeing, and Gulfstream, the margin for error is virtually nonexistent. By synchronizing engineering and manufacturing data structures, Aeronamic is not merely upgrading its software; it is fundamentally rewiring how complex aerospace components are brought to life.

Bridging the Engineering-to-Manufacturing Divide

The core technical hurdle in modern manufacturing lies in the translation of the Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM) to the Manufacturing Bill of Materials (MBOM). The EBOM represents the product as designed by engineers—a hierarchical list of parts and assemblies. The MBOM, however, represents the product as it will be built on the shop floor, incorporating routing instructions, specific machinery, plant-specific variations, and assembly sequencing.

Historically, reconciling these two structures has been a manual, error-prone process. When engineering designs evolve, manufacturing teams are often left scrambling to update their process plans, leading to bottlenecks and costly scrap. The Aras Digital Manufacturing Engineering accelerator automates this governance, ensuring that any change in the engineering design automatically flags necessary adjustments in the manufacturing plan.

This synchronization allows manufacturing engineers to begin planning while designs are still in flux, rather than waiting for a finalized blueprint. It is a shift from sequential to concurrent engineering.

“PLM is a journey. For us, that journey with Aras has spanned more than a decade of continuous improvement. Aras has guided us from digital foundations to industrial maturity, and today we are building on that foundation to extend our digital thread strategy,” said Ronny Blaauwgeers, Director Manufacturing Engineering at Aeronamic. “The benefits are clear: greater anticipation, faster time-to-market, increased flexibility, reduced material waste, and full traceability across the product lifecycle. It allows us to make smarter decisions at every stage.”

The End of the Spreadsheet Era in Defense Aerospace

Aeronamic’s digital evolution highlights a pressing reality for tier-one and tier-two aerospace suppliers: the era of managing mission-critical data on spreadsheets is over. Prior to implementing Aras in 2012, the Dutch manufacturer relied on a fragmented web of custom databases, paper-based processes, and disconnected systems. As the company’s portfolio grew to include highly complex systems like the Forward Module for the F-35, these legacy methods became unsustainable.

Today, the regulatory and compliance pressures confronting defense aerospace suppliers are immense. The U.S. Department of Defense has issued stringent digital engineering directives, demanding that suppliers participate in a unified digital ecosystem. Major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Lockheed Martin, Airbus, and Boeing now impose strict digital thread mandates on their supply chains to ensure compliance with AS9100 and FAA/EASA regulations.

For programs like the F-35, where Aeronamic holds long-term contracts for the sustainment of the Power and Thermal Management System (PTMS) spanning up to 50 years, traceability is paramount. Every component, engineering change order, and maintenance record must be meticulously tracked across decades. A unified PLM-ERP digital backbone is no longer a competitive advantage; it is a baseline requirement for participation in modern defense programs.

The Low-Code Surge in European Manufacturing

Aeronamic’s adoption of the new accelerator also underscores a shifting competitive landscape within the enterprise software market. For years, the PLM sector has been dominated by monolithic, rigid platforms. However, there is a growing surge in the adoption of agile, low-code architectures across the European industrial base.

Aras has carved out a distinct position by offering an AI-native, low-code foundation that prioritizes flexibility and upgradeability. Unlike legacy systems where heavy customization often prevents companies from upgrading to newer software versions, the Aras architecture allows customizations to persist through platform updates. This adaptability is crucial for manufacturers who must constantly pivot to meet evolving OEM requirements and integrate emerging technologies.

By becoming the first European subscriber to the Digital Manufacturing Engineering accelerator, Aeronamic is at the forefront of this low-code movement. The company currently operates a single Aras-based product data environment connected to multiple ERP systems across its business units in the Netherlands and Romania.

“Aeronamic has taken a practical, step-by-step approach, balancing strategic initiatives with continuous improvement along the way. The adoption of Digital Manufacturing Engineering represents the next phase of that evolution, extending digital continuity into manufacturing while supporting the traceability and control required in aerospace,” said Leon Lauritsen, CEO of Aras.

Future-Proofing the Aerospace Supply Chain

As the aerospace industry pushes toward ambitious goals, including zero-emission aviation, the complexity of manufactured components will only increase. Aeronamic is already contributing to this future by developing next-generation electrical compressors and electronic control units for thermal management and fuel cells.

Managing the lifecycle of these novel technologies requires a robust digital foundation. Looking ahead, the company is exploring advanced manufacturing process planning, deeper integration between its PLM and ERP systems, and future AI-enabled innovations to further strengthen operational efficiency.

The integration of agentic AI into the product lifecycle promises to automate routine compliance checks, predict manufacturing bottlenecks before they occur, and optimize supply chain logistics. By establishing a seamless digital thread from the initial engineering concept to the final manufactured product, Aeronamic is not just streamlining its current operations. The company is building a resilient, adaptable infrastructure capable of navigating the increasingly complex and heavily regulated future of global aviation.