How to ensure that the spares are always available for an aircraft

A steady supply of spares for aircraft is the backbone of any aircraft repair work. Any conventional inventory management plan is made assuming that nothing shall ever go wrong in the supply chain. But it usually is the opposite and problems with the supply chain are not only common but happen due to a variety of reasons, some that can be controlled while others absolutely beyond anyone’s wildest imaginations.

For instance, the supply chains are most vulnerable to any natural disaster and need not wait for a global catastrophe like corona to hit for it. Even a small disruption at one point in the supply chain affects the entire process and results in delays, cost escalations, and a lot of bad blood. Thus to prevent or at the most minimize such chances of a possible malfunction in the supply chain it is recommended that supply chain management procedures are reviewed from the perspective of an insurance broker as well, once in a while.

If one determines the exact spare parts needs of a particular carrier or MRO provider, it may not only optimize the speed of the process but also help bring along a major cost and effort saving. Storing spare parts for an airplane that you run serves as an insurance against any costly downtime and thus carriers, as well as their suppliers, try their best to figure out the most adequate insurance coverage that ensures the right amount of spares at the right place and the right price.

Simply buying and dumping a whole lot of spare parts, say a seat clip that usually does not need such urgent replacement, and not keeping necessary engine parts is again a problem that needs to be addressed when reviewing the supply chain procedures. Many companies tend to rely on lists of spare parts that have been recommended by spare providers which also needs to be checked and validated.

Although these lists are normally made while keeping in mind and taking into consideration an average failure characteristic of a component or part. But the specialists who are making these lists tend to overlook the economic impact this list of spare parts will have while waiting for that spare part to arrive. In case of a repairable unit, the average repair time of the aircraft defines what economic benefit it is bringing to the company and not the time it spends on the ground waiting for the spare part to be brought to it from a remote location.