Procurement consultancy

Optimising supply chain in the aerospace sector

Towards a more strategic supplier management for better supply chain resilience

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Project at a glance
Client
Leading Aerospace Company (Aero Structure Applications)
Function
Procurement
Challenge
Following the COVID-19 crisis, the company faced supply chain instability, rising raw material costs, operational pressure from a sudden order surge, and high turnover within the procurement team. Procurement processes were reactive, exposing the organization to supplier risks and operational disruptions.
Solution
Altesia deployed a full-time Procurement Consultant for 18 months to stabilize operations, restructure supplier management, implement structured procurement processes, and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Impact
Improved supplier performance, reduced purchasing portfolio by 50%, generated cost savings, enhanced procurement maturity, and shifted from crisis management to strategic supplier governance.
Altesia helped the client move from reactive crisis management to structured, strategic supplier management, strengthening supply chain resilience in a highly demanding aerospace environment.

Background

A leading company in aero structure applications faced significant challenges in the post-COVID context.

The 2020 COVID crisis hit the aerospace sector hard, bringing activities to a near standstill, strongly reducing orders from the company’s clients and to its suppliers. When the industry restarted, a surge in orders aimed at catching up on accumulated delays. This sudden increase in activity put immense pressure on the company and its suppliers, driving up raw material costs and intensifying production demands.


On top of this, the company faced an organizational challenge: high turnover within the procurement team left key projects neglected.

 

In this context, the logistical complexities of sourcing these mechanical parts introduced critical risks that required immediate attention. To address this crisis and stabilize their operations, the company enlisted Altesia’s expertise.

​

Quentin Tillet, a Procurement Consultant at Altesia, was appointed for the mission.  Over a period of one and a half years in a full-time capacity, he conducted a comprehensive analysis of the entire supplier portfolio and developed a risk mitigation strategy to enhance supply chain resilience, while directly managing a focused segment of suppliers. The strategy focused on stabilizing the company’s procurement processes before advancing towards more strategic supplier management.

 

 

Approach

Altesia appointed Quentin Tillet as a full-time Procurement Consultant for 18 months to stabilize procurement operations and progressively transform supplier management practices. The mission evolved from urgent crisis containment to a structured, strategic overhaul of procurement processes and governance.

  • 1

    Operational Stabilization & Supplier Performance

    Quentin managed daily supplier operations, including strategic suppliers, improving key metrics such as On-Time Delivery (OTD) and On-Quality Delivery (OQD). This ensured immediate stabilization of supply continuity and reduced operational risks.

  • 2

    Portfolio Rationalization & Strategic Sourcing

    He launched tenders, implemented RFI/RFQ (RFX) processes, and consolidated the supplier base — reducing the purchasing portfolio by half. This simplified management, improved negotiation leverage, and strengthened strategic partnerships.

  • 3

    Process Structuring & Compliance

    New reporting tools and supplier selection methodologies were introduced, aligned with AS9100 and APQP aerospace standards. Quentin also supported ISO 9100 audits and customer quality assessments, reinforcing compliance and governance.

  • 4

    Strategic Integration & Leadership

    Beyond operations, Quentin supported Transfer of Work (TOW) initiatives, integrated CSR criteria into supplier selection, and led procurement meetings. His impact earned him a role within the decision-making committee, reflecting strong client trust.

Results

Quentin Tillet’s efforts led to significant enhancements in procurement processes:

 

  • Reduction of the purchasing portfolio by half, simplifying management and intensifying supplier consolidation.

  • Substantial cost reductions and enhancement of the potential for more strategic partnerships.

 

The advisory services provided under Quentin’s guidance substantially elevated the client’s procurement maturity, optimizing their overall supply chain strategy.

Client feedback

  • The client expressed strong confidence in Quentin’s leadership, granting him a position within the decision-making committee. His contribution significantly elevated procurement maturity and strengthened the company’s long-term supply chain strategy.