Sixteen Years of the Development Journey of HMC

 
On this day in 2009, HMC has officially launched. Over the past 16 years, group after group of people have gathered here, witnessing the journey of HMC from first delivery to becoming a ‌benchmark in manufacturing industry‌. Year after year, one milestone after another has been achieved, ‌expanding new horizons with every step forward‌. At this moment, let us ‌trace their footsteps and look back the journey traveled.
On the occasion of HMC's 16^th birthday, memories of the past flooded into my mind like a tide. In October 2008, I was appointed as the Head of Human Resources and joined the negotiation and preparation project team of the joint venture company. My main job was to discuss human resources related matters around the establishment of the joint venture company. In December 2008, a joint recruitment was conducted between Hafei and Airbus, and the first batch of manufacturing candidates recommended by Hafei were interviewed and evaluated. We selected 25 candidates and embarked on a fulfilling journey of initiation: strengthening English training, handling overseas procedures, and then they embarked on a journey to Spain to receive training on A320 work packages. In May 2009, we completed the recruitment of the first batch of personnel for the management department, the first batch manufacturing and management employees became a solid foundation for the company's operations. After the establishment of the joint venture company, the management members gradually arrived, and technical support teams were assigned in batches. With the company's organization and operation, management processes gradually improving, the whole company worked together to focus on the construction of the company and promote the industrialization process of work packages. In 2011, employees were dispatched to Spain and Germany to participate in A350 work packages training. The company has successfully delivered various work packages, production rate ramp up, cost reduction and continuously improvement and has now achieved the goals set when it was established. Time flies, personnel flow, and now HMC has become a benchmark enterprise for sustainable development in aero-structures composite with clear strategy, cultural cohesion, and promising prospects. Happy 16^th birthday to HMC!

In 2009, the contract signing of the final page of the A320 Rudder marked Airbus composite localization while opening a new chapter in China-Europe cooperation. Concurrent 2009 initiatives launched A350 Maintenance Door and Rudder programs. With post-2010 expansion adding A350 Elevator and Belly Fairing production, we gradually became sole supplier for Airbus work packages such as the A350 Rudder, Elevator, and S19 Maintenance Door, establishing reliable composite supply streams for both A320 and A350 platforms. In the process of driving the implementation of program, through end-to-end collaboration from feasibility studies to full-cycle delivery to enhance on-time delivery capabilities and cultivate new growth vectors; Simultaneously, deployment of NDT inspection, honeycomb cutting, and lab testing services created a “Manufacturing + Services" model, accelerating HMC's transformation into a globally competitive aerospace service provider. From the signing in 2009 to becoming an important part of Airbus supply chain, over the past 16 years, we have proven that ‌excellence in delivery‌ is vital for realizing partnerships and winning market trust, and have set a benchmark of mutual trust and ‌win-win success‌ for China-Europe cooperation.
In 2009, when the first drawing was unfolded in the temporary office, HMC team embarked on a journey to build a production line from zero. In July of 2011, we delivered the first product of A320 rudder in just two years. In the following years, with the goal of achieving industrial production, we overcame technical difficulties such as composite manufacturing and assembly, and had the full process production capability from composite manufacturing, NDT, painting to assembly. From December 2012 to June 2015,  we achieved the first delivery of A350 Maintenance door, A350 Elevator, A350 Rudder, A350 Belly fairing, completing a milestone leap for company. Since 2016, HMC has been expanding day by day, the company has continuously improved its operational management from multiple dimensions such as lean production, supply chain management, and customer communication. The work package rate has continued to ramp up, with the maximum production reaching 58 A/Cs per month for A320 rudder and an average monthly production rate of 10 A/Cs per month for A350 work package. In October of 2023, the milestone of delivering 4000 A/Cs for A320 rudder was reached in total. From an annual production capacity of over ten aircraft to a modern production line with an average of dozens of aircraft per month, we have demonstrated HMC hardcore delivery capabilities with continuously increasing delivery data.
On June 2009, the company's blueprint kicked off along with the first cornerstone of HMC was laid in soil. In the early days, we relied on leasing Hafei's equipment and facilities for production, and employees crowded in 10 square meter workshops without air conditioning. In 2009, with the roar of the first batch of machinery, the factory builders worked overtime day and night. In the spring of 2011, with the completion of blue building, we had own "home". A factory covered with air conditioning was erected, a brand-new production line was arranged, a high-precision equipment such as automatic tape laying machines began to operate, and a self-built cafeteria provided employees with nutritious dishes, making them feel the warmth of home. In the summer of 2017, with the completion of Building 2 and all three production lines, it marked that the company had met the standards of Airbus' sole supplier. Since 2024, the company has successively renovated, adhering to the concept of "people-oriented", and built the new employee restroom to create a warm resting environment for employees. In the past 16 years, the upgrading and renovating of factory facilities have always been coordinated with the development of HMC, achieving mutual achievements between cultural environment and production efficiency.
On June 8^th, 2025, as the safety calendar turns to reveal a new numeral—1394, the weighty responsibilities safeguarding lives had long been etched into days gone by. From day one, the concept of "safety first" has been deeply rooted in the culture of HMC and has accompanied the company's growth. In 2018, we upgraded from traditional single accident prevention to a dual prevention mechanism and achieved 365 Days without Accident for the first time. Since 2020, we have been certified by occupational health and safety management system and safety standardization system, which built a solid system wall for everyone's health and safe. Through a variety of activities such as Safety Month, fire drills, and first aid training, we aim to cascade safety culture to each employee. With the digital wave, we successfully promote the digitization of safety management processes from paper-based processes to digital platform in 2024. From 365 Days without Accident to One Million Hours LTI Free, and then to the 3 years without LTI, every day safety calendar covered is an extension of safety responsibility. From now on, we will steadily move towards longer and higher standards of safety milestone.
When the torrent of time converges with individual narratives at this moment, when grand endeavors are supported by many hands, every milestone deserves  remembering, every ordinary employee deserves to be seen even more. Now, let us join hands to add new chapters to HMC's grand journey.