Optimal allocation of resources at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Abstract

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has played and continues to play a pivotal role innumerous research and development programs developed for both civil and defense aviation.As of today, HAL has 19 production units and 10 research and design centers across 8 locationsin India. HAL is organized into divisions which manufacture different types of aircrafts likecombat planes, helicopters and transport planes. The company has an impressive product trackrecord – while sound in-house research has helped HAL develop 15 types of aircrafts andhelicopters, 14 types of aircrafts are being produced after getting the required licenses fromtheir respective manufacturers. According to the latest statistics available, HAL hasmanufactured over 3,646 aircraft and helicopters, 4,096 engines and overhauled over 9,447aircraft and 29,886 engines. The aircraft division at HAL manufactures Jaguar and Hawk for theIndian air force.The Aircraft Division was established in the year 1940. Since its inception, the division hasmanufactured a variety of aircraft both under license as well as those which have beenindigenously designed and developed. Currently, the division is manufacturing the JaguarInternational twin-seater aircraft under license from British Aerospace, UK. The division isequipped with modern infrastructure like a state-of-the-art plant and sophisticated equipmentfor CAD-CAM manufacturing, engineering, quality assurance and customer support systems.Aircraft division employs 2,121 highly skilled personnel including more than 350 engineersworking in a covered area of 2,25,000 square meters. In a major diversification initiative, thedivision is now manufacturing and exporting high precision aircraft components and subassemblies for commercial aircraft. The division has so far manufactured over 1,500 aircraft ofvarious types. With experience and capabilities built over the past six decades, the aircraftdivision is bidding for substantial share in the international aeronautical market.