Gallery: Tour Spirit AeroSystems New Digital Logistics Center

Molly McMillin

'Ahead Of The Competition'

Spirit AeroSystems has opened a new Global Logistics Center in Wichita, which the company says puts it years ahead of the competition. The facility, operated by DB Schenker, is equipped with a 40-ft. tall automated high-bay shuttle system and stores and retrieves more than 95,000 unique parts used in the assembly of large aerostructures. Credit: Spirit AeroSystems

'Not A Warehouse'

“This is not a warehouse,” Tom Gentile, Spirit AeroSystems CEO, said at an event celebrating the opening of the company’s new Global Digital Logistics Center. “This is a state-of-the-art system that can move parts from suppliers to the factory floor at the most efficient way possible.” Credit: Molly McMillin/AviationWeek

Parts Placement

Parts arrive at the Global Logistics Center and are placed into the system within 12 hr. The system then dispatches a special tote for employees to place the parts, which are then propelled into storage and tracked. Robotic cranes transport the totes, which travel up to 28 mph, and feed 208 kit boxes an hour. Credit: Spirit AeroSystems

Early Morning Delivery

When a part is needed for assembly of a specific aircraft section, the system dispatches multiple totes containing parts to a picking station, where employees place the parts in a kit box. Once completed, the parts are loaded onto special carts and delivered to the factory floor by 5 a.m. ready for mechanics to start their day. . Credit: Spirit AeroSystems

Next Step: Benchmarking With Amazon

The state-of-the-art facility puts Spirit AeroSystems at about a five-year advantage, says Jim Cocca, Spirit vice president of supply chain execution. The next step is to benchmark the facility with that of Amazon, he says. Credit: Molly McMillin/AviationWeek

99% Delivery Accuracy

The shuttle drive system is the largest and most advanced in the world, Spirit says, and boasts a 99% kit delivery accuracy. The system is more efficient, safer and more accurate and reduces strain on employees, says Jim Cocca, Spirit AeroSystems vice president of supply chain execution. Credit: Molly McMillin/AviationWeek

Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing’s largest supplier, celebrated the opening of its Wichita-based Global Digital Logistics Center, which features 9 acres of rack shelving, 51 rack bays and the capacity to move up to 120,000 parts per day. Spirit fabricates 38,000 unique parts per day at its facility and handles more than 100,000 unique parts sourced from more than 600 suppliers, officials say.

Molly McMillin

Molly McMillin, a 25-year aviation journalist, is managing editor of business aviation for the Aviation Week Network and editor-in-chief of The Weekly of Business Aviation, an Aviation Week market intelligence report.