Logistics, Spares & Tooling
Benefits
Effective Logistics and Spares management can:
- Increase aircraft availability by minimising downtime through the availability of the appropriate spares.
- Deliver costs savings with regard to various provisioning options.
- Calculate the required inventory increase as required by fleet growth.
- Gain benefits from developing partnerships with other airlines and user groups.
- Maintain focus on important issues by out-sourcing less important functions.
Aim
To support an aircraft’s operation the logistical arrangements must be robust and deliver best value. New operators are reliant on the recommendations of the airframe and engine manufacturers as to what the stock and tool holding should contain. This can be a delicate balance between cost and availability of aircraft. Equally new operators may not have the experience of the following: top 20 unreliable components, parts that are difficult to procure, items which have extended repair times, consumables that will be frequently used and items that are costly if bought from the OEM. This knowledge is only accumulated by the need to source specific items but in an industry that demands regularity and punctuality, the new operator is expected to have provisioned for the operation correctly on the first occasion. There is a varied selection of options for stock holding that includes; spares purchase, part exchange programs, engine care and maintenance plans, rental or pool agreements, lease packages and consignment stock. A combination of all these elements can be adopted to successfully provide the most economic level of logistics support that best suits the operation.
Tasks
- Understanding the correct complement of spares and tooling to ensure aircraft reliability.
- Identification of the components most likely to fail in operational service.
- Control the Inventory through the use of a software system.
- Manage stock to minimise slow moving items.
- Definition of the purchasing role – centralised or devolved.
- Through the planning process, establishment of minimum levels for frequently replaced items as part of scheduled maintenance.
- Evaluation of the available choices to select the best options for operational integrity.
- Investigation of OEM provided packages for levels of service and cost.
- Establish a network of suppliers who commit to providing best value.
- Identification of a Global Logistics provider to enable prompt shipment of spares.
- Contractual review to evaluate vendor and supplier performance.
Vector Experience
Through effective management of spares provisioning the team at Vector has overseen a fleet grow to 13 SAAB 340 aircraft in a six year period with only a 50% increase in spares whilst maintaining aircraft delivery above the SAAB world wide average.
