Boeing and airbus to host supplier symposiums on permanent bar code identification of parts

Citation

(2001), "Boeing and airbus to host supplier symposiums on permanent bar code identification of parts", Assembly Automation, Vol. 21 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2001.03321dab.008

Boeing and airbus to host supplier symposiums on permanent bar code identification of parts

Boeing and airbus to host supplier symposiums on permanent bar code identification of parts

Keywords: Auto ID, Aerospace

Boeing and Airbus shared their progress and vision for permanent bar code identification with airlines, aviation suppliers, third-party maintenance providers and military logistics interests at Frontline Solutions Europe 2001 (16-18 October 2001, RAI, Amsterdam).

Airline customers of both Boeing and Airbus asked the airplane manufacturers to implement bar coding on parts that are included in an airplane's readiness log, typically a listing of serialized components that are on the airplane at the time of delivery. Boeing and Airbus have agreed to require the Air Transport Association's (ATA) SPEC 2000 permanent bar code identification as a standard practice.

According to Kenneth Porad, Programme Manager of the permanent bar code on parts identification programme at Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group, such bar coding provides manufacturers and their supply chains with access to product history that could be used for troubleshooting and early identification of problems.

He said: "Permanent bar code parts identification is the beginning of true traceability of parts in the industry. The traceability improvements with bar code technology will translate into continued airline safety, which is Boeing's primary concern.

"The appeal for hosting our Global Aviation Bar Code Forums in conjunction with Frontline Solutions Europe is that we can provide an in-depth conference on ATA SPEC 2000 with direct access to the providers of software and equipment under one roof."

Through the permanent bar code ID programme, bar codes or direct marks will be put on existing designed parts that are currently in production. The programme is voluntary, although no supplier has turned down the Boeing request to bar code parts.

More than 500 suppliers provide the 5,000 part numbers in the readiness log that will be marked to increase the efficiency of life-cycle tracking. As a result of Boeing and Airbus working together, almost the entire airline industry will be affected by this move.