Case Study: Airbus achieves cleaner, faster Mars rover production with iBase-t

Airbus Accelerates Space Exploration to Mars

Airbus needed to manufacture the ESA ExoMars rover in an ultra‑strict biological cleanroom where even a sheet of paper could contaminate the vehicle. Facing frequent engineering changes, one‑off assemblies and uncompromising quality and planetary‑protection rules, Airbus selected iBase-t’s MES solution powered by Solumina to move to paperless, digitally controlled production and minimize contamination risk.

iBase-t deployed the Solumina‑based Integrated Production System so teams could work remotely on tablets, tightly control processes, and integrate PLM (Windchill), ERP (SAP) and planning systems. The result: far fewer cleanroom entries (avoiding trips that could require up to 45 minutes of donning gear), improved time productivity and work efficiency, reduced on‑site worker dependency, faster signature loops and stronger quality assurance — accelerating Airbus’s assembly and verification of the ExoMars rover.

Airbus

Leon Rowson

Mechanical Satellite Manager