GE Aerospace’s Celma location at 75: A legacy of excellence in Brazil, a future built for flight

For 75 years, GE Aerospace's Celma location has played a pivotal role in the growth of Brazil's aerospace industry and GE Aerospace's global services network. What began in 1951 as a first-of-its-kind operation in Petrópolis has become a cornerstone of engine maintenance, repair and overhaul in Latin America.

It also plays a critical role in how the company serves customers around the world. Today, about 25% of GE Aerospace's engine maintenance demand worldwide is supported by the Brazilian operation, which spans five sites in the cities of Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro and Três Rios.

With nearly 3,000 employees, Celma performs maintenance and overhaul work on the CFM56*, CF6 and GEnx engine families and serves more than 30 customers worldwide, primarily in the United States and Europe. The operation also supports Brazil's defense sector through Avio do Brasil.

"GE Aerospace Celma's 75th anniversary is an important milestone not only for Brazil, but for our global operation," said Mohamed Ali, president and CEO of GE Aerospace's commercial engines business. "Brazil has established itself as a center of excellence in engineering and advanced maintenance, delivering safety and technical efficiency to our customers."

That sense of global importance was reinforced recently by GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO Larry Culp following a visit to Brazil. Culp praised the team in Celma for demonstrating what championship performance looks like. Reflecting on the Celma employees he met, he highlighted their pride, passion and capabilities, as well as their embrace of FLIGHT DECK, the company's proprietary lean operating model, to improve flow, reduce waste and strengthen performance. Culp also pointed to the site's strong 5S discipline, its relentless focus on Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost, and a recent improvement in CFM56 final assembly that reduced lead time by nearly 50%, from 13 days to seven.

Looking to the Future

The Celma site's next chapter is already taking shape. GE Aerospace is investing approximately US $80 million in a new LEAP engine repair shop in Três Rios, expanding repair capabilities in Brazil for the next generation of commercial aircraft engines and reinforcing the company's long-term commitment to the country.

PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT AND FLIGHT DECK

At the same time, Celma is investing in another capability that is just as essential: people.

Workforce development and building a strong pipeline of talent have long been part of the the site's story and remains central to its future. More than 300 students in Brazil benefit from skills training programs supported by GE Aerospace donations. In Petrópolis, nearly 200 GE Aerospace workers are trained annually through the site's apprenticeship program. Since 2019, more than 750 people have completed the program, and approximately 70% have been hired.

Celma also is changing the way its people operate. Through FLIGHT DECK, site teams are creating a more disciplined, customer-focused and sustainable operating model.

One of the most significant culture shifts inspired by FLIGHT DECK at the Celma site has been the implementation of Flow Lines and a more disciplined operation focused on customer demand, said André Ferraz, Brazil FLIGHT DECK leader. "Across the site, teams have actively identified opportunities to improve flow between operations, reduce work-in-process inventory, and create a more stable operating rhythm aligned to takt time. That experience reinforces a core flow/pull principle: more consistent results come not from producing more, but from producing at the right pace based on customer demand."

Ferraz also emphasized the role of visual management in helping teams better understand demand, align daily execution to takt time - the time a product must be manufactured to meet customer demand - and manage performance in real time. These practices strengthen ownership of standard work and improve the identification of problems addressed in Daily Management. Just as importantly, Celma's FLIGHT DECK journey has shown that improvement is sustained by the discipline required to embed new standards into everyday operations, not just through kaizen events or value stream analysis. Improvement is just how we work - supported by daily management and structured problem solving to address performance gaps and deliver long-term results.

At 75, the Celma site stands as a symbol of industrial excellence in Brazil and a model for how heritage and transformation can work hand in hand. Its foundation was built by generations of dedicated employees. Its future is being shaped by continued investment, talent development, and a deep commitment to continuous improvement. As the site looks ahead, it is clear that its legacy is not only something to honor - it is something the team is still building every day.

* CFM International is a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.

Q&A box: Julio Talon on Celma's legacy and future

Julio Talon, GE Aerospace Brazil MRO leader, reflects on the strengths that have defined the company's site in Brazil - and the opportunities ahead.

What part of Celma's legacy best prepares the organization for the future?
Over its 75-year history, Celma's greatest strength has been its team spirit. At decisive moments in its journey, the team has consistently demonstrated professionalism, dedication and commitment to the company and its customers. More than overcoming challenges, this history has been marked by passion, determination and the ability to turn difficulties into learning - strengthening the organization and preparing it for an even stronger, more competitive future.

What role should the operations in Brazil play within GE Aerospace and the aerospace sector over the next five to 10 years?
We are preparing now our next five to ten years in Brazil. Specifically, I believe that we will be reaping the benefits from the all-LEAP Tres Rios MRO shop that we are opening early next year, which will make our Brazilian MRO operations almost double in size when compared to the current production levels. That evolution will happen by operationalizing FLIGHT DECK and incorporating its principles and practices into our management model, the way we work, and the way we run the business.

How does the five-site cluster balance tradition and transformation in a time of constant technological and market change?
In aerospace, adapting quickly to constant technological and market change is essential for business sustainability and competitiveness. Our team's ability to adapt - and that openness to change - is part of a culture built over many years and strengthened by the different cycles and transformations the company has experienced throughout its history.

What message would you leave for the employees building GE Aerospace's next 75 years in Brazil?
I believe in a bright future for our Brazil operations and, above all, in the strength of the people who build this company every day. We have a path of great opportunities ahead of us, and I could not be more confident in what we are capable of achieving together. Our team - with its talent, commitment and desire to always do better - is what makes Celma special. Throughout our history, we have shown that we know how to face challenges, learn from them and move forward even stronger. With increasingly solid processes, a focus on continuous improvement, and investments in people and new technologies, we are building an even more promising future.

How do you imagine Celma's centennial 25 years from now?
It will be the greatest celebration of all - with a new generation of leaders and employees at the helm, celebrating Celma's 100 years with pride, responsibility and a vision for the future. That generation will know how to value our legacy and recognize the contribution of the thousands of people whose dedication and professionalism carried the company to its first centennial. With determination, confidence and humility, they will take this company even further.