Work Package 3: Smarter Supply Chain Management for Sustainable Aircraft Maintenance

Challenge:

The logistics of aircraft maintenance are complex and often inefficient. Spare parts are partially managed manually, and it’s challenging to obtain real-time insight into the location or status of parts. This leads to delays, higher costs, and sometimes unnecessary maintenance.

Objective of Work Package 3:
Work Package 3 focuses on establishing a Control Tower by developing a partially automated system for supply chain management. This system will provide real-time insight into the status, location, and projected demand for aircraft parts, thereby integrating results from Work Packages 1 and 2. The Control Tower will receive early warnings when a component is at risk of failing and can exchange information with the Digital Product Passport through a Data Space. This system aims to equip Control Tower actors with sufficient information to ensure that parts are available at the right place and time, enabling more efficient maintenance operations. Through strategic use of technology—like the Digital Product Passport and the development of Smart Contracts—we aim to optimize the entire logistics chain.

Why is this important?

Current management of aircraft parts is often manual and inefficient, resulting in longer lead times and higher costs. Important documents frequently go missing, or parts are lost within the logistics process. Work Package 3 aims to solve these issues by providing a transparent and reliable solution for supply chain management in aircraft maintenance. This not only reduces costs but also contributes to a more sustainable maintenance process by reducing unnecessary transport and waste of parts.

Benefits:

• Faster and more efficient maintenance processes: improved information on part availability and condition allows maintenance companies to work faster and with fewer errors.

• Cost savings: fewer unnecessary transport movements, lower inventories, and more efficient planning lead to cost reductions within the logistics process.

• Sustainability: by better managing logistics, we reduce the waste of rare materials and limit emissions of harmful substances.

Partners and Collaboration:

This work package is being executed in collaboration with several key players in the aviation sector, including KLM, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), InnoTractor, and OneLogistics. By combining their strengths, we can ensure that the innovations are widely applicable and impactful for both civil and military aviation.

Timeline and Results:

The project runs from 2024 to 2027. During this period, we will first develop a prototype of the supply chain management system in a lab environment (end of 2025). This will be followed by a demonstration in an operational maintenance setting to show that the system works in practice (end of 2027).

Impact on the Future of Aircraft Maintenance:

If this work package is successful, aircraft maintenance worldwide will become more sustainable, efficient and effective. Fewer parts will be replaced unnecessarily, reducing both costs and waste. The Netherlands will also further strengthen its competitive position in the aviation sector by being at the forefront of these technological innovations.