Aerospace and Defense manufacturers are entering a prolonged period of high-rate production – and the pressure is intensifying. OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers must accelerate output while maintaining uncompromising standards for safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
Yet across the industry, the same constraint keeps emerging: a shortage of specialized technical talent. Machinists, composite technicians, inspectors, process engineers, manufacturing engineers, and quality specialists are in short supply, and suppliers are struggling to keep pace with rising demand.
This capability gap isn’t just slowing throughput – it’s creating production risk, quality variability, and schedule volatility throughout the supply chain.
Bridging the Workforce Gap with SQA’s Field Engineering Teams
For more than 30 years, SQA has supported A&D production environments with scalable, highly trained Field Engineering talent. Our workforce model is designed to integrate seamlessly into supplier operations, helping stabilize processes, accelerate throughput, and uphold rigorous industry standards.
SQA provides flexible teams that include:
- Source inspectors & quality specialists
- Manufacturing engineers & process engineers
- Technical coaches and OJT (on-the-job training) specialists
- Experts in machining, composites, special processes, and gears
- Specialized A&D assembly and inspection personnel
Every deployment is tailored to the supplier’s maturity, production rate, and technical challenges—ensuring rapid integration without disruption.
Doing, Teaching, and Elevating Capability – Not Just Filling Seats
SQA’s approach goes beyond simply placing headcount. Our Field Engineering workforce delivers hands-on execution paired with long-term capability uplift.
Through structured OJT, process verification, documentation alignment, and
competency development, SQA helps suppliers build sustainable capability rather than temporary relief.
Our teams engage directly with operators, engineers, and quality personnel to:
- Validate and reinforce production processes
- Close documentation gaps
- Improve inspection consistency
- Strengthen process discipline
- Reduce rework and escape risk
- Support new-line activation or ramp-up scenarios
The result: suppliers increase output without sacrificing quality or compliance.
Why Technical Capability Is the New Capacity
In today’s labor market, A&D leaders can’t rely on hiring alone. Production rates increase only when capability increases—when processes are repeatable, quality is predictable, and the workforce has the technical depth required for complex assemblies.
SQA helps suppliers achieve:
- Higher throughput with stable, predictable yields
- Right-first-time quality through disciplined verification
- Reduced MRB, rework, and escape risk
- Faster onboarding and competency development
- Greater readiness for digital and automated inspection workflows
This is essential in programs where any delay or quality slip can impact flight schedules, mission timelines, and customer trust.
A Scalable Workforce Model Built for Aerospace & Defense
Whether supporting high-rate commercial aerospace, defense production, space systems, or emerging advanced manufacturing programs, SQA’s Field Engineering workforce brings the depth, discipline, and industry-specific expertise needed to stabilize and scale complex operations.
As build rates continue to rise—and supplier maturity remains uneven—OEMs and Tier-1s need a partner who can augment capability at the point of execution.
SQA ensures suppliers have the technical talent, engineering rigor, and quality discipline required to meet production demands without compromising compliance or safety.
Ready to Strengthen Your Production Capability?
SQA’s Field Engineering workforce solutions help aerospace and defense programs scale safely, efficiently, and with confidence.
Contact our team to discuss how we can support your high-rate production goals.
