Optimizing Your MRO Database to Increase Turn-Around-Time Efficiency
It is all about efficiency. The MRO database optimization is the key to this efficiency. A database management system that effectively streamlines day-to-day operations will improve resource allocation, decision-making, and regulatory compliance.
The central component of maintenance activities is an MRO database. From work orders and maintenance schedules to parts inventory and compliance documentation, it keeps track of every little detail. The complexity of aircraft design is growing, and with it is the volume of data that needs to be retrieved quickly and effectively. Database optimization speeds up turn-around-times (TAT) by lowering errors, downtime, and improving overall work flow.
Let us now discuss the strategies that are currently leading our industry and the reasons behind their ability to optimize and enhance TAT.
Importance of a Strong MRO Database
An MRO database is the cornerstone of maintenance operations. It records every detail, from work orders and maintenance schedules to parts inventory and compliance documentation. As aircraft designs become more complex and data volumes increase, it is crucial that this information is quickly and efficiently retrievable. Optimizing the database reduces downtime, minimizes errors, and improves overall workflow, leading to faster TAT.
Key Strategies for Optimizing Your MRO Database
Data Standardization. Ensure consistent formats for dates, part numbers, and maintenance codes. This reduces inconsistencies and errors, making data retrieval more efficient.
Advanced Search Capabilities. Implement advanced search algorithms using keywords and part numbers. Features like predictive text and auto-fill expedite information retrieval.
Integration with Other Systems. Integrate your MRO database with inventory management, procurement, and compliance tracking systems. This streamlines data flow, eliminates manual entry, and reduces errors.
Periodic Data Audits. Conduct regular data audits to identify and correct duplicate entries, redundant data, and inconsistencies. This maintains database accuracy and efficiency.
Instant Updating. Enable real-time updates for maintenance activities and part usage. This ensures all stakeholders have current information for better decision-making and timely responses.
User Training and Access Management. Provide comprehensive training for users on data input and retrieval. Implement controlled access rights to protect data integrity and foster accountability.
Embracing Modern Maintenance Philosophies: MSG-3 and Reliability Monitoring
With the introduction of the MSG-3 maintenance philosophy, reliability monitoring has become a regulatory requirement for airlines, mandating the monitoring of maintenance program effectiveness. Airlines now commonly assign dedicated roles within their engineering departments to manage this task, producing monthly reliability reports and holding team meetings to discuss findings and support troubleshooting.
Different airline engineering teams approach reliability management in two distinct ways:
The Reliability Engineer as the Engineering Department’s Own BI Specialist. Typically, a younger engineer is proficient in data analysis and reporting tools like Excel. This role involves creating monthly reliability reports to drive fleet and organizational improvements, often producing dashboards and KPIs to manage performance.
The Maintenance Program Engineer Does Reliability Monitoring as a Side-Job. Common in smaller fleets (below 30 aircraft), this role combines managing the maintenance program with creating reliability statistics. This approach often satisfies regulatory requirements without addressing deeper reliability issues.
The Ideal Scenario: Automation of Reliability Reporting
The ideal scenario involves automating reliability reporting, allowing engineers to focus on technical investigations for system and component improvements. This can significantly decrease maintenance downtime. To achieve this, consider these steps:
Step 1: Automate Data Collection and Reporting
Utilize reliability analytics software, such as EXSYN's AVILYTICS, to automate data collection and report creation. This saves valuable time and improves accuracy.
Step 2: Equip Reliability Engineers for Technical Investigations
Enable reliability engineers to focus on recurring defects, component MTBURs, maintenance task escalations/de-escalations, and defect root-cause analysis.
Step 3: Collaborate on Engineering Solutions
Work with system engineers or maintenance managers to implement changes that improve maintenance TAT and reduce unscheduled defects. This enhances fleet availability and Technical Dispatch Reliability.
Optimizing Repair Turn-Around-Times
One critical aspect of aircraft maintenance is the repair TAT for parts. To better predict and manage TAT, consider asking your MRO the following questions:
Do you have a lot of parts in the queue for this type of repair?
How long will this part number take to get evaluated?
How long will it take once the work order quote is approved?
Have you recently seen repairs that took longer than average?
It is crucial to keep in mind that a number of variables, such as transit time, the unit is condition, test stand capacity, technician availability, and OEM support, can affect repair TATs. Knowing these factors contributes to more efficient maintenance overall and helps establish reasonable expectations.
Conclusion
Improved operational efficiency and shorter TAT can be achieved by optimizing your MRO database through advanced searching, system integration, data standardization, and the use of cutting-edge technologies. Ensuring safety and adhering to regulations is crucial. In a field where every second matters, investing in a strong, well-optimized MRO database is crucial.
How EXSYN Can Help
EXSYN's team of aircraft data and aviation experts utilize a proven framework and methodology for adoption of predictive analytics in aviation. It has been applied to numerous fleets and aircraft and includes:
EXSYN’s pre-build AVILYTICS environment of analysis modules, widgets, formulas, and algorithms on a wide range of ATA chapters and components.
Workshops to identify the specific maintenance complaints to be monitored for each fleet operated by your airline.
Implementation of identified complaints per aircraft type and registration into the AVILYTICS environment. Including data mining, validation and user interface design.
Native integration of the AVILYTICS modules in your own platform or hosting in the myEXSYN.com digital environment in case your airline does not have a data warehouse yet.
Training of identified user groups.
Adoption workshops to support successful day-to-day usage of predictive analytical techniques and business models.
Machine learning to identify future potential maintenance complaints to be monitored.
Ongoing software maintenance support for modules implemented.