Conference Round-up

While maintenance providers enjoy surging demand, the run-up to their annual gathering at MRO Europe reminds that significant challenges still beset the sector.

Major talking points at this year's MRO Europe conference in London included adapting to structural shifts in the supply chain; attracting and motivating a younger workforce following an exodus of experienced staff; and the ability of technology to alleviate some of the industry's pain points.

All three topics were addressed by keynote speaker Andy Best. British Airways' chief technical officer noted that the flag carrier has hired more than 100 data scientists and is using data analytics to predict things like Boeing 787 brake wear without the need for human inspection.

But he also demanded more transparency from the supply chain, noting consistent failure by suppliers to deliver on time. This prompted a warning for OEMs, with Best observing that while BA couldn’t dictate their strategies, it could switch suppliers in high-value areas like engine and cabin provision.

Manufacturers responded, with officials from Boeing and Airbus emphasizing efforts to improve transparency and visibility for their customers, for example by embedding supply chain personnel in their factories to ‘rob’ line-fit items for the aftermarket where necessary.

Pratt & Whitney, meanwhile, promised that its investments were close to ensuring that materials shortages were no longer the main impediment to maintenance on its engines.

There were also calls from within the aftermarket to accept there is no “quick fix” for the supply chain, and to adapt to the “new normal” of long lead times.

“Even the most reputable of suppliers are not reliable anymore so we've had to develop in-house capabilities to secure operations,” commented Yasin Birinci, chief technical officer at Turkish Technic.

Another maintenance chief noted that alternative solutions like PMA parts and DER repairs might evolve into necessary options to ensure aircraft availability.

This is particularly relevant in the context of an ageing global fleet for which maintenance costs have risen four times more than capacity since 2019, observed Naveo’s Jonas Murby during a discussion on ensuring profitability in an environment where airlines are carrying 60% more inventory than before the pandemic.

But it is impossible to build up buffers in all areas, meaning more use of technologies like digitization and automation to ensure parts are in the right place at the right time, a panel of airline technical chiefs observed.

Artificial intelligence will also play a role, according to another panel, helping to rationalize the “messy” data that maintenance relies upon and, once that foundation is laid, to free up labor from mundane tasks and serve as a force multiplier.

This will be particularly important in the coming years as the MRO sector grapples with labor shortages and the replacement of experienced technicians. Embracing technologies like AI and augmented reality will be vital to attract, train and retain the next generation, commented HAECO’s Klaus-Peter Leinauer.

His fellow MRO panelists agreed that attracting talent was their top priority over the next few years.

“We’re all hiring,” concluded Bo Lump, SVP business development for SR Technics.