Claverham's Support Chain Management (SCM) division has announced at the show what it calls a "ground-breaking" partnership agreement with FR Hi Temp that will save the UK defence ministry millions in operating costs.
Impressive
The deal covers FR Hi Temp-manufactured fuel-valve actuators for the RAF's Tornado fleet. The partnership is unique in being the first time Claverham has extended its supply-chain management principle to cover equipment for which it is not the original source. The new arrangement means SCM is paid on the basis of operational availability rather than for repairs following a breakdown.
SCM managing director Alan Fisher says the deal lays the groundwork for further applications of the concept. "The SCM service has performed very impressively in the field and the MoD has encouraged us to explore further applications," says Fisher. "We hope the arrangement with FR Hi Temp is the first of many."
The company is also examining ways of using SCM on new airframes, managing equipment for which there is no record of reliability, and looking for opportunities beyond the UK under the umbrella of the Hamilton Sundstrand organisation.
Revolution
Fisher believes SCM will revolutionise the relationship between equipment suppliers and military customers and reduce aircraft downtime. "We have a product that can potentially save air forces millions of pounds in operating costs and now have a platform and support chain to market it globally."
Source: Flight Daily News
