Qualification and Heritage: Why New Suppliers Take Years
Why can't buyers simply switch to a new supplier when an incumbent is late?
Chapter summary
because space hardware must be proven before it flies, and proof takes years.
Key takeaways
- 1
A new part must pass a qualification programme (environmental, radiation and life tests to defined standards), and primes and government buyers prefer parts with flight heritage, evidence that the design has worked in orbit.
- 2
The combination means a new supplier typically needs three to six years to become a credible source for critical parts, and even a new production line at an existing supplier may need requalification.
- 3
Qualification is the main reason bottlenecks persist after demand is visible.
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