Spirit AeroSystems expands engineering capabilities via Malaysia Design Center 

In February 2024, Spirit AeroSystems Inc. (Wichita, Kan., U.S.) announced the grand opening of its Engineering Design Center in Subang, Malaysia, which expands the company’s global engineering capabilities. Spirit’s engineering team in Malaysia is already a significant player in the design of the A350XWB Section 15 Freighter, A350XWB Ultra Long Range and a key partner to A220 Wing program — the latter of which makes extensive use of composite materials (read “Plant tour: Spirit AeroSystems, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.”).  

Dr. Sean Black, Spirit AeroSystems senior vice president, chief technology officer (CTO) and chief engineer, says the new center will enable Spirit to expand engineering services to meet growing customer demand as air travel continues to recover to pre-pandemic levels and higher.

Located in the middle of the Subang factory, the center has been expanded through two renovation projects to model and furnish space and incorporate soundproofing in the workspace to accommodate new engineering functions for the Malaysia engineering team, including 24-hour engineering service to Spirit factories around the globe. The center is equipped with state-of-the-art engineering technology, high speed networks, and engineering software.

“Expanding engineering services in Malaysia gives Spirit the ability for around-the-clock support for our global manufacturing locations and development programs, improving engineering turnaround time, so we can provide service to meet our growing customer demand,” Black explains. “Additionally, an expanded engineering office in Malaysia will enhance supply chain communications in the Asia-Pacific region by providing operations within the same time zone, as well as culture and language advantages.”

Black adds that upgrading engineering capabilities for the company’s Malaysia facility creates future opportunities for Spirit to offer design-and-build capabilities in that region. “A stronger engineering workforce in Malaysia helps Spirit have better agility and capacity to serve our global customers,” he concludes.