AEROSPACE, MILITARY & DEFENCE
Some VMI providers are able to provide a quality assured service in-line with AS9100 and AS13100, where parts are tested in an in-house quality laboratory before being supplied to the aerospace business, providing peace of mind that parts are genuine and meet the required quality standards.
DIGITALISING THE SUPPLY CHAIN Although they solve many traditional problems in the aerospace supply chain, traditional VMI solutions are primarily a manual service. The VMI partner’s employees will attend the site regularly to check stock levels, replenish stock and create replenishment plans for the next site visit. With AS13100 increasing the compliance demands on manufacturers, many aerospace businesses are looking for supply chain solutions that are automated and connected to deliver increased traceability and reduce the risk of human error. The May 2021 McKinsey report Digital: The next horizon for global aerospace and defense found that the supply chain showed the most value-creation potential of any stage in the global aerospace and defence industry. The report found that, while the supply chain is the single largest driver or the cost structure for many businesses, only 15 per cent of those surveyed use digital at scale to optimise demand planning, 12 per cent for procurement and 16 per cent to track components through their lifecycle. When asked why digital deployment in the supply chain was so low, the most common reason was data. To be able to collect and manage the necessary data, aerospace manufacturers can opt for VMI solutions that are enterprise- level and cloud-based. This technology
enables manufacturers to achieve real-time visibility over who is using what and where, improving traceability, compliance, part quality and cash flow. These systems can be built from a range of inventory technologies including industrial vending, mobile automated replenishment systems, asset management solutions and app- based inventory management tools. A VMI solution connected to cloud-based software gives aerospace businesses real- time access to traceability reports and asset information, which are useful tools for quality management. Consider this example. An aerospace manufacturer has installed a VMI Smart
Solution that includes iBinScale technology. Production managers have worked with the VMI partner to set minimum and maximum levels, so that when stock drops below minimum, a notification is automatically sent to the supplier. The stock arrives in the next delivery, with no requirement for the manufacturer to monitor stock levels, contact suppliers or arrange delivery.
REPORTING MADE SIMPLE Digital supply chain management technology can provide manufacturers with a full report of each part’s journey - from batch number allocation to tail and engine numbers - so manufacturers have full traceability from part delivery to final product. As well as the ability to trace individual components, digital technology can provide full accountability to users, as there will be a digital trail of what was accessed, when and who by. Implementing digital
technology into the aerospace supply chain can help with regulatory compliance, while freeing up members of the production, procurement and quality management teams to work on value adding activities that unlock growth.
TFC
tfc.eu.com
UKManufacturing Spring 2023
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