Scalian Launches Inspection Service Center for Airbus in Casablanca
On November 3rd, French engineering firm Scalian announced the establishment of a dedicated service center in Casablanca aimed at supporting the European aerospace giant Airbus. This facility will be responsible for examining and validating around 2,000 inspection files pertaining to the production of aircraft components, with an ambitious target of completing these inspections by the first half of 2027. This translates to an impressive average of approximately 333 inspection files per month, highlighting the efficiency and capacity of the Casablanca team in addressing the rigorous demands of the aerospace industry.
The Casablanca service center will extend its capabilities to include comprehensive documentation control for the first article across three distinct categories: "new project, internal/client modification, and project transfer," as noted by Scalian. This initiative is part of a significant aerospace program for Airbus, with the A350 and A220 aircraft programs prioritized for their expertise in Casablanca.
Central to the operations at this new facility will be the First Article Inspection (FAI) and Last Article Inspection (LAI). These inspection processes are critical, as they ensure that both the first and last manufactured parts meet the exact specifications outlined by Airbus regarding plans, materials, methods, and quality requirements. The Casablanca center will bridge the gap between engineering offices, quality assurance teams, manufacturing plants, and suppliers, particularly during key phases of production, such as the initiation of a project, modifications, or shifts in manufacturing locations.
Streamlined Processes for Quality Assurance
The inspections will focus on structural and mechanical components of aircraft. Engineers stationed in Casablanca will meticulously review manufacturing plans, inspection reports, and compliance with Airbus specifications. They will also coordinate necessary corrections with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams, ensuring that any documentation discrepancies are identified, assigned, and resolved through actionable plans.
For the initial articles, the team will prepare the necessary regulatory forms, identify characteristics on the plans, gather materials and components certificates, verify bill of materials, and attach physical evidence of compliance. They will closely monitor non-conformities and corrective measures until final validation is achieved, adhering to the EN 9102 standard, which outlines the common inspection requirements for first articles in aerospace, space, and defense industries. The latest European version, EN 9102:2024, is set to be included in the 2026 registry of the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG).
Airbus mandates a comprehensive, independent inspection of the first article at the start of production, following any changes in definition, manufacturing processes, or supplier locations, with another inspection required after a production halt of two years or more. For A220 suppliers, Airbus demands formal documentation for elementary parts, subassemblies, assemblies, and certain lots required for assembly, all of which must be submitted in the Net-Inspect electronic system before shipment.
The validation of 2,000 files within six months necessitates a robust industrial organization for document control in Casablanca, complete with common rules, tracking tables, and regular distribution of inspection files among examiners. Each file may encompass detailed plans, measurement results, material certificates, special operations, test reports, and any necessary deviations, indicating a volume of work that far exceeds occasional supplier assistance.
In addition to inspection responsibilities, Scalian has also assigned another Casablanca team to manage industrial changes from suppliers, tracking Supplier Industrial Change Notifications from receipt to closure. This team will identify missing information, designate relevant services, assess risks, and conduct formal evaluations for medium to high-risk changes, ensuring continuous communication with suppliers and leading closure meetings while monitoring overdue actions.
Scalian, with a workforce of approximately 5,500 across eleven countries, provides project management services, supplier quality assurance, and digital systems support. One of its crucial roles in Casablanca is dedicated to managing Airbus's supply chain and supplier quality, which includes oversight of spare parts alerts for the after-sales service in Hamburg, and qualifications for a Chinese supplier producing titanium parts for the A380 using 3D printing technology.
The technical examination, risk management, supplier validation, and documentation release functions performed in Casablanca serve multiple Airbus factories. A file processed in Morocco may pertain to a last part manufactured in Europe, North America, or Asia, especially when the first part from a new process originates from a facility in another country. This model adds a layer of exportable industrial service activity to Moroccan factories.
As Airbus ramps up its production cadence—having recorded 9,310 commercial aircraft in its backlog by the end of September 2026, with 1,105 net orders since the beginning of the year—the Casablanca schedule aligns with these increasing demands. The group aims to produce thirteen A220s and twelve A350s monthly by 2028, significantly increasing the volume of supplier changes, process qualifications, and first article documentation.
In December 2025, Airbus acquired the Casablanca site from American supplier Spirit AeroSystems, the manufacturer of components for the A220 and A321, renaming it Airbus Atlantic Morocco Aero. By the end of the first nine months of 2026, Airbus reported a charge of €235 million (approximately 2.53 billion dirhams) related to the global integration of Spirit's former industrial lots. Furthermore, Airbus announced on October 10th the preparation of a third Moroccan plant of about 6,900 square meters dedicated to design, manufacturing, and assembly, with a representative mentioning a 30% increase in surface area and a formal announcement expected in the upcoming months.
As reported by barlamane.com.
