If you've ever had to deal with large lots of material, whatever it may be, you've had to deal with a large number of disorganized parts arriving in the warehouse. Each part must be identified, checked for matching documents, and assigned to a specific location in the warehouse.
We, at Horix Aerospace, are used to manage large surplus stocks of spare parts, which may come from purchases of surplus inventories or from dismantled aircraft for parts, and we know very well the significance of an accurate, meticulous inventory process.
Our Swiss precision applies incredibly well to the Aviation industry, where the safety and efficiency of operations hinge on the reliability and traceability of every component used in an aircraft.
In this article, we briefly explore the vital importance of maintaining an accurate inventory process, emphasizing the crucial aspects of quality and traceability in spare parts management.
As every part installed on an aircraft must meet stringent safety and quality standards set by regulatory bodies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), an accurate inventory process ensures that only parts that meet these standards are sold and installed.
An accurate inventory management helps in verifying that each part meets the necessary certification and quality standards. This includes ensuring parts are free from defects, have not exceeded their shelf life, and are accompanied by the correct documentation. Regarding the important aspect of proper documentation, we recommend reading the article New Surplus VS Certifications: Certificate of Conformity and ATA106.
Not only, but the risk of counterfeit parts entering the supply chain loop is a significant concern we all must be aware of. Robust inventory processes that include thorough inspection and verification help in identifying and preventing the use of counterfeit or substandard parts.
Traceability is another critical requirement in our industry. Knowing the history of each spare part (origin, usage, and maintenance history) is essential for maintaining safety and compliance.
An accurate inventory process involves also meticulous record-keeping, ensuring that every part's journey from manufacturer to installation is well-documented. This includes important data, such as manufacturing date, batch number, and maintenance records.
To enhance accuracy in the inventory process, we implemented and continuously improve several best practices:
An aviation industry-dedicated ERP: accurate inventory means increasing efficiency, but an efficient inventory management is not possible without the right tool. Our aviation-dedicated ERP helps us keeping track of all the relevant parts data, from the simple P/N to condition, S/N, batch/lot, shelf life, component hours, price, certificates and pictures; we recommend reading the article Aviation ERP for Spare Parts Distributors;
Regular internal audits and inspections of inventory: this is how a quality system ensure that records are accurate and up-to-date. These checks can identify discrepancies and areas for improvement in our inventory management process; read the article Quality as a Business Tool to learn more.
Invest in training and education: staff involved in inventory management must be well-trained in applying our internal instructions for receiving, storing and picking of materials, as well as in industry regulations;
Implementation of APIs (Application Programming Interface) to keep our inventory updated on a daily basis, on all the most famous online platforms (PartsBase, ILS, StockMarket, Fipart, Locatory… ); read the article The right Marketplace for Aircraft Spare Parts to learn more.
The benefits we get from the above practices are immediately accessible: a clean, lean and precise inventory, meticulously recorded in a dedicated ERP from a Team of Quality committed, highly trained Aviation experts, always paying attention to new opportunities for improvement.
How do we share the benefits with you?
When you search for parts and we are showing stock, rest easy, as behind this mere availability detail, there’s an entire Supply Chain Team saving you time and efforts, offering what you need, the way you need it.
About Horix Aerospace
Horix Aerospace is an horizontally integrated aerospace company, strongly focused in Spare Parts Management solutions for the Business Aircraft Market. Horix has developed both the Trust Consignment Program and the Trust Dismantling Program to offer clients a unique opportunity becoming the Swiss Trusted Solution for Aerospace Components Management. With over $30M in assets under management, Horix Aerospace has become a disruptive force in the Aerospace Industry with both its Trust Dismantling Program and unique Business Model.
Strongly capitalized and managed by a team of industry veterans, Horix Aerospace is proud to be a Swiss owned and operated company.
Comments