This article is published in Aviation Week & Space Technology and is free to read until Dec 26, 2025. If you want to read more articles from this publication, please click the link to subscribe.
Tech Upgrades Boost Aftermarket Supply Chain And Logistics Offerings
1. Reducing Inventory Costs
Company: Armac Systems
Product: Armac Systems’ RIOsys software uses artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, advanced mathematical models and cloud computing architecture to help companies optimize inventory planning for rotables and consumables. The software was developed in collaboration with SR Technics’ component services business before being relaunched as a separate entity in 2020. Armac Systems says other inventory planning and procurement systems are unable to adapt to the nuances of the MRO industry—such as varying fleets, routes, maintenance locations and conditions, or parts with a shelf life or that must be held at line stations for insurance purposes—so they often do not reflect true stock levels. RIOsys focuses on transactional data from customers’ existing systems, their planners’ expert knowledge and advanced mathematical models to maximize spare parts availability at the lowest cost. The software is used by customers such as Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific, Finnair and Iberia Maintenance. At Iberia Maintenance, the software has enabled a 24% inventory cost reduction.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/suppliers/armac-systems/
2. Expanding Footprint
Company: B&H Worldwide
Product: B&H Worldwide signed a global warehousing and logistics contract with Ontic Aerospace at MRO Europe in October. Under the deal, B&H will offer inventory management services, dangerous goods handling, routine and aircraft-on-ground (AOG) shipping services, as well as hold more than 3,000 items to support Ontic’s exchange program across the U.S., UK and Singapore. In September, the company opened a new 6,000-ft.2 facility near Heathrow Airport that was designed to provide dedicated inventory management services for one of its engine leasing customers. At MRO Asia-Pacific in September, B&H extended its Southeast Asia-focused logistics and warehousing partnership with AerFin. In addition to providing AerFin with aviation parts, warehousing and inventory management in Singapore, B&H is also providing logistics services to support AerFin’s aircraft teardowns at Hong Kong International Airport. Last year, B&H launched a mobile version of its FirstTRAC inventory management platform that allows customers to track their static inventory located in its global warehouses, monitor orders in process and access transport documentation.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/suppliers/bh-worldwide/
3. Tapping Technology
Company: Kuehne+Nagel
Product: Kuehne+Nagel has been leveraging technology this year to enhance response times and communication. The company recently revamped its AOG service to streamline customer communications, committing to 15-min. response times. Kuehne+Nagel has also been working to integrate its logistics data into the aftermarket’s popular Swiss-AS AMOS maintenance software, and it is working on a proof of concept that uses Internet of Things technology to capture data from smart labels, which lets it track shipment movements in real time. In August, the company partnered with MTU Maintenance Lease Services to open a new fulfillment center in Zhuhai, China, to support MTU’s material supply in the region. In February, Kuehne+Nagel opened a Rolls-Royce engine fulfillment center in Dubai that will house Trent family engines, spare parts, units and nacelles. This summer, Kuehne+Nagel also renewed its logistics collaboration with Airbus in Spain and expanded the partnership to include helicopter MRO activities.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/suppliers/kuehne-nagel/
4. Orchestrating Supply
Company: Pelico
Product: Founded in 2019, Pelico has created an AI-powered software platform to help operational teams quickly identify and respond to supply chain disruptions. Pelico says its software was purpose-built to solve operational fragmentation by connecting data, teams and tools, which it says can enable faster decision-making, reduced backlogs, lower inventory costs and on-time delivery. Some of the software’s functionality includes: identifying parts shortages early and recommending remediation actions; finding alternative parts to reduce reliance on constrained supply; and keeping high-priority orders, such as AOGs, on track by flagging critical parts and reallocating resources. Pelico’s software is used by companies such as AFI KLM E&M, Airbus, Eaton and Safran, and the company says the technology can reduce parts shortages by 37% and increase on-time deliveries by 15% within 10 weeks of implementation. In June, Pelico announced a $40 million strategic financing round to accelerate its growth in North America.
Related Content
