Critical Chain Case Study: The PMI's Project of the Year

Embraer has applied Critical Chain to develop the E190-E2 aircraft.

How to launch in 5 years and 1 month ahead of schedule a complex program, with a virtually new and more connected airplane, a new production system, and a new global supply chain?

The Embraer E190-E2 is a new mid-range aircraft developed in only five years. The 1.3Bn$ program was initiated in 2013 and announced at the Paris Air Show.

The goal was to develop a brand-new mid-range airplane to compete with Bombardier's CSeries.

The model was certified and launched in 2018, only five years after the business plan validation, one month ahead of schedule.

• Embraer adopted the Theory of Constraints in 1990 and has implemented the Critical Chain approach from 2009.
• The E190-E2 aircraft is the first to have been entirely developed following the principles of the Critical Chain.
• Right from the planning stage, they succeeded in reducing the duration of the project by 22 months.
• Thanks to the follow-up via the Fever Chart, they were able to react quickly to drifts and finish about a month before the scheduled date.