Maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) facilities play an integral role in keeping aircraft operable and airworthy. Although any facility that performs these actions in servicing aircraft may be labeled an MRO, there may be a significant variation in the business models and efficiency between locations. Like other aspects of aviation, MROs are constantly looking for ways to innovate so that they may optimize repair time while maintaining high reliability. In this blog, we will focus on the various strategies being implemented by MRO facilities to increase output and provide customers with the best experience possible.
In order to fully represent all the aspects of MRO optimization, it is first necessary to review the different types of facilities that may be found, as some strategies may not be applicable to certain business models.
Typically owned and operated by a small group of employees, independent repair stations are smaller facilities that focus on a particular aspect of aircraft repairs, such as the wings or fuselage. Although they are unable to capture business from customers needing full servicing, independent repair stations are very popular when it comes to their area of expertise.
This business model accounts for the majority of MRO facilities, with locations found at the various airlines' major hubs. Unlike independent repair stations, these facilities are owned and operated by the airlines and offer a full breadth of service capabilities.
To ensure cost savings and promote employee aptitude, most militaries perform maintenance and repair in-house. Much like their civilian counterparts, the different models of military aircraft have particular hubs at which they are serviced.
Like other business models, MROs aim to optimize business processes by identifying problems, researching potential solutions, implementing one or more, and reviewing the results. In addition to these lean business principles, MROs may also enact industry-specific solutions to improve efficiency. The first strategy that has gained significant traction recently is the implementation of a computerized maintenance management information system (CMMIS). These programs track and synthesize data relating to equipment, preventative maintenance, labor, work order systems, and other assets. The result is a product that can be used to monitor regulatory compliance while also identifying business aspects that may be improved.
Another high yield strategy is the adoption of lean storeroom and inventory techniques. With the amount of equipment that MRO facilities must carry on hand at all times, it can be easy to allow storage space to become cluttered and for assets to become misallocated. Therefore, it is beneficial for managers to regularly sort through existing inventory processes and determine which are useful or slowing operations. Through the simple identification and elimination of inefficient processes, MROs are already on track to increasing their output while reducing unnecessary costs.
MROs, and nearly every other industry, have felt the consequences of an unstable global supply chain over the last couple of years. Between an international pandemic and several military conflicts, businesses worldwide had to come to terms with how they source their required goods. As a result, many companies began to introduce AI and IoT technology into supply chain planning, giving them a competitive advantage and providing agility when global stressors are applied. It has become obvious that a one-time investment in technology is likely to yield long-term positive results.
At Aviation Orbit, we stand poised, ready to help you achieve your MRO optimization goals. With a diverse and ever-expanding inventory of maintenance and repair equipment, we are confident that we can help you source the exact components your operation requires. We are an AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B accredited enterprise dedicated to providing customers with the best products and purchasing solutions possible. As such, we implement several quality assurance measures as well as a strict NO-CHINA Sourcing policy. Get started on the purchasing process with the submission of an RFQ form today and let our team at Aviation Orbit take the hassle out of part procurement.
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