A British airline industry organisation is getting smart in its efforts to increase traceability in the supply chain, as part of a partnership deal with smart asset tracking specialist BT Auto ID, announced today.
The Northwest Aerospace Alliance's Aerospace Innovation Centre (AIC), which represents 800 companies including BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, hopes to pioneer smart asset tracking, a method of tracing products in the supply chain.
AIC lead project innovator Richard Harrison says: "Smart asset tracking offers the potential to ensure that components reach their destination exactly when required, cutting down inventory and producing greater efficiencies."
Smart asset tracking enables companies to pinpoint the location, movement and other data relating to machinery and components as they pass through the various stages of the supply chain. The system is common in other industries but has not been widely applied in aerospace because of the complexities of the assets, inventory and supply-chain partnerships involved.
Study
The partners have launched a pilot study within the North West aerospace cluster to assess the efficiencies of the application of the technology for the industry.
Harrison says: "Aerospace supply chains are very complex and with the shift to greater risk sharing and devolved responsibilities down the chain, it is becoming increasingly more important to build up a real-time picture of the supply process at any given stage."
Most smart asset tracking systems aim to increase efficiency, reduce data entry errors, and free up staff to perform more value-added functions. The systems monitor the status and location of machinery and production components to provide information such as accurate inventory control, status and real-time customer requirements which can help optimise required stock levels.
MIKE MCGRATH
Source: Flight Daily News
