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Boeing Global Services has told Aviation Week that while supply chains are starting to stabilize, a full recovery to pre-pandemic benchmarks is unlikely this decade.
“Supplier capacity constraints continue to hinder our ability to meet demand, and we continue to encounter unexpected shortages due to obsolescence, non-conformance and subcomponent shortages in the OEM supply chain,” an official at the OEM said.
In response, Boeing is using AI and data analytics to ensure better provisioning.
Examples include its “Parts Planning Hub,” a data-driven collaboration tool to improve forecasting, and a landing gear analytics tool that uses aircraft health monitoring data to better determine what components need replacing on future landing gear overhauls.
“As we see increased near-term demand for MRO and related parts due to many operators performing deferred maintenance, Boeing is also making investments and pursuing innovative solutions to help address supply chain constraints and ensure we can deliver the right part at the right place and time to meet customer needs,” the official says.
The largest of these investments is in inventory, such as transactional spares, component repair and exchange programs. It is also adding warehouse locations around the world to bring it closer to airline and MRO customers and shorten the logistics chain.
Nonetheless, lead times for many new parts remain elevated, so Boeing is also expanding into used serviceable materials (USM)—a market it expects to grow by 10% annually.
“Leveraging USM allows operators to enhance maintenance strategies, reduce costs and maintain fleet readiness without compromising on quality,” the Boeing representative said.
For a full report on the aftermarket strategies of Boeing and several of the biggest component OEMs, see the next issue of Inside MRO.
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