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1 – 9 of 9Yichen Qin, Hoi-Lam Ma, Felix T.S. Chan and Waqar Ahmed Khan
This paper aims to build a novel model and approach that assist an aircraft MRO procurement and overhaul management problems from the perspective of aircraft maintenance service…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to build a novel model and approach that assist an aircraft MRO procurement and overhaul management problems from the perspective of aircraft maintenance service provider, in order to ensure its smoothness maintenance activities implementation. The mathematical model utilizes the data related to warehouse inventory management, incoming customer service planning as well as risk forecast and control management at the decision-making stage, which facilitates to alleviate the negative impact of the uncertain maintenance demands on the MRO spare parts inventory management operations.
Design/methodology/approach
A stochastic model is proposed to formulate the problem to minimize the impact of uncertain maintenance demands, which provides flexible procurement and overhaul strategies. A Benders decomposition algorithm is proposed to solve large-scale problem instances given the structure of the mathematical model.
Findings
Compared with the default branch-and-bound algorithm, the computational results suggest that the proposed Benders decomposition algorithm increases convergence speed.
Research limitations/implications
The results among the same group of problem instances suggest the robustness of Benders decomposition in tackling instances with different number of stochastic scenarios involved.
Practical implications
Extending the proposed model and algorithm to a decision support system is possible, which utilizes the databases from enterprise's service planning and management information systems.
Originality/value
A novel decision-making model for the integrated rotable and expendable MRO spare parts planning problem under uncertain environment is developed, which is formulated as a two-stage stochastic programming model.
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Michael MacDonnell and Ben Clegg
To develop a systems strategy for supply chain management in aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).
Abstract
Purpose
To develop a systems strategy for supply chain management in aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).
Design/methodology/approach
A standard systems development methodology has been followed to produce a process model (i.e. the AMSCR model); an information model (i.e. business rules) and a computerised information management capability (i.e. automated optimisation).
Findings
The proof of concept for this web‐based MRO supply chain system has been established through collaboration with a sample of the different types of supply chain members. The proven benefits comprise new potential to minimise the stock holding costs of the whole supply chain whilst also minimising non‐flying time of the aircraft that the supply chain supports.
Research limitations/implications
The scale of change needed to successfully model and automate the supply chain is vast. This research is a limited‐scale experiment intended to show the power of process analysis and automation, coupled with strategic use of management science techniques, to derive tangible business benefit.
Practical implications
This type of system is now vital in an industry that has continuously decreasing profit margins; which in turn means pressure to reduce servicing times and increase the mean time between them.
Originality/value
Original work has been conducted at several levels: process, information and automation. The proof‐of‐concept system has been applied to an aircraft MRO supply chain. This is an area of research that has been neglected, and as a result is not well served by current systems solutions.
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Blockchain is the fastest-growing technology currently being used in the aviation industry, especially in aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. This study aims…
Abstract
Purpose
Blockchain is the fastest-growing technology currently being used in the aviation industry, especially in aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. This study aims to create an analytic framework to assess the main factors and subfactors that have significantly influence the blockchain used in aviation MRO services. A mixed-methods approach is used to gain a comprehensive understanding of how blockchain is being adopted in aircraft maintenance facilities, Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires are used to gather data. The questionnaire is focused on the present state of the MRO industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the literature review, a framework including four factors and 12 subfactors is developed, and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is then established. This study explores how these factors influence the implementation of blockchain in aviation MRO services. The five aviation MRO services providers in Taiwan, namely, “Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation,” “Taiwan Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Co., Ltd.,” “Air Asia Company Ltd.,” “Aerospace Industrial Development Corp.” and “GE Evergreen Engine Services Corporation” are considered; furthermore, 55 experts working in these organizations were invited to evaluate the relative importance criteria in the AHP framework.
Findings
The results indicate that “inventory management” is the most important criterion, followed by “provisioning, procurement and sales” and “maintenance planning.” In addition, the three most important subfactors are “parts interchangeability,” “customer stock” and “SPEC2K interface for ATA SPEC 2000.”
Originality/value
Asia is ranked as the second most important aviation MRO service market in the world. Taiwan has the shortest flight hours in the western Pacific region, the seven major foreign cities in this area. Aviation MRO service providers located in Taiwan are the best choices for aircraft MRO in the Asia-Pacific region, indicating that Taiwan serves as a promising market development evaluation model for blockchain aviation MRO services. The results offer a comprehensive overview of the relative importance of different criteria for MRO services that use blockchains. In addition, the findings present the market potential for key players in the aviation industry, including aircraft engineers, airline companies, aircraft component manufacturers and aviation MRO service providers.
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The management of materials to support aircraftmaintenance is studied. In a situation where thesafety stock is determined using a rule of thumbthat does not differentiate the…
Abstract
The management of materials to support aircraft maintenance is studied. In a situation where the safety stock is determined using a rule of thumb that does not differentiate the demand variation, the problem of low service level of expendables cannot be solved unless this rule is changed. A new guide for safety stock, taking demand pattern into consideration, is introduced. In addition, more reordering of low cost items is automated to ease slightly the high manpower utilisation, and put more effort where it counts most – monitoring and expediting high cost items. Other problems are related to loss and repair cost of the repairable items.
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Hamad Al‐kaabi, Andrew Potter and Mohamed Naim
This paper aims to evaluate the main business models used for airlines' maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities and determine the activities to which these relate.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate the main business models used for airlines' maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities and determine the activities to which these relate.
Design/methodology/approach
A critical literature review is used to develop a conceptual model of MRO activities. This is evaluated through a SWOT analysis before an exploratory study of eight airlines is used to confirm the applicability of the conceptual model.
Findings
Four levels of MRO outsourcing are identified; from fully outsourced to fully in‐sourced. From the exploratory study it is shown that critical MRO activities such as line maintenance are frequently in‐sourced, while activities with low demand at an airline level such as engine maintenance are often outsourced.
Practical implications
MRO represent around 10‐15 per cent of an airline's operational costs. By identifying the strength and weaknesses of different MRO models, it is possible to evaluate alternative MRO strategies.
Originality/value
Unlike other research in maintenance which was aimed mainly at the manufacturing sectors, this research provides insights into the maintenance practises in a service sector. In particular this research studies the different outsourcing levels existing in airlines' MRO. The knowledge gained by understanding the mechanism of outsourcing in airlines' MRO can be further extended to other industries and help in best configuring their maintenance units.
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Ivan A. Camelier, Luis A. Lourenço and José Lourenço da Saúde
The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of research into the support activities of commercial aircraft (A/C).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of research into the support activities of commercial aircraft (A/C).
Design/methodology/approach
The work is associated with A/C operations (OPS) providing a structure establishing the A/C sustaining during the in‐service phase. The process involved the implementation of a field survey in order to capture heuristically A/C support practices to enable one to identify system requirements. This part of the work utilized the collaboration of 21 A/C operators and maintenance repair and overhaul companies from various regions of the world.
Findings
Using systems engineering methodology, the research process led to the development of a prototype sustaining system. The solution comprises a tree of support functionalities (similar to a work breakdown structure). The result was verified by major local national airlines which confirmed the ability of the solution in terms of representing a viable structure establishing an A/C sustaining system.
Originality/value
The research initiative presented represents a contribution in the domain of A/C OPS, namely in terms of management aspects, by making available a solution that serves as a reference element, with a holistic nature, that integrates, normalizes and unifies commercial A/C support practices.
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Dorothea Bowyer and Glenda Davis
The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how a grounded theory method applied to a case study within a particular industrial context can be used to derive a substantive model of…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how a grounded theory method applied to a case study within a particular industrial context can be used to derive a substantive model of the practice of capital budgeting and contribute to an understanding of contextual elements that affect investment decisions. This study aims to examine how the investment decision to acquire aircraft, strategic core assets, is made by small players within an industry that is small by world standards, Australian regional aviation.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopts a grounded theory approach to the case study. Primary data were collected using questionnaires, semi‐structured and open‐ended interviews. Secondary data comprised pro‐forma aircraft lease contracts and information from a law firm. Consistent with grounded theory, qualitative research mining software (Leximancer) was used to facilitate initial analyses of data and understanding of decision factors and their relationships. The model was derived, refined and confirmed using data from follow‐up unstructured interviews.
Findings
This research within a specific industrial context finds that a substantive model derived through a grounded theory approach provides an understanding of the richness of the investment scenario and the decision factors considered in the capital budgeting decision. Reflection on such narrow industrial findings in terms of existing theories provides insight into the reasons for the gap between practice and theory.
Originality/value
This research is original in that it employs a grounded theory approach, which has received little attention within prior literature, to derive a substantive model based on industrial practice of managers who are instrumental in and responsible for a capital budgeting decision. Such an alternative approach to modelling is of value in bridging the gap between practice and theory. Substantive models produced for different industries or contexts can be compared and similarities refined into a theory that is grounded in practice. Dissimilarities may provide valuable insights into variables and processes that are unique to particular contexts.
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The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on maintenance management and suggest possible gaps from the point of view of researchers and practitioners.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on maintenance management and suggest possible gaps from the point of view of researchers and practitioners.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper systematically categorizes the published literature and then analyzes and reviews it methodically.
Findings
The paper finds that important issues in maintenance management range from various optimization models, maintenance techniques, scheduling, and information systems etc. Within each category, gaps have been identified. A new shift in maintenance paradigm is also highlighted.
Practical implications
Literature on classification of maintenance management has so far been very limited. This paper reviews a large number of papers in this field and suggests a classification in to various areas and sub areas. Subsequently, various emerging trends in the field of maintenance management are identified to help researchers specifying gaps in the literature and direct research efforts suitably.
Originality/value
The paper contains a comprehensive listing of publications on the field in question and their classification according to various attributes. The paper will be useful to researchers, maintenance professionals and others concerned with maintenance to understand the importance of maintenance management
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Kai Leung Yung, George To Sum Ho, Yuk Ming Tang and Wai Hung Ip
This project attempts to present a space component inventory classification system for space inventory replenishment and management. The authors propose to adopt a classification…
Abstract
Purpose
This project attempts to present a space component inventory classification system for space inventory replenishment and management. The authors propose to adopt a classification system that can incorporate all the different variables in a multi-criteria configuration. Fuzzy logic is applied as an effective way for formulating classification problems in space inventory replenishment.
Design/methodology/approach
A fuzzy-based approach with ABC classification is proposed to incorporate all the different variables in a multi-criteria configuration. Fuzzy logic is applied as an effective way for formulating classification problems in space inventory replenishment of the soil preparation system (SOPSYS) which is used in grinding and sifting Phobos rocks to sub-millimeter size in the Phobos-Grunt space mission. An information system was developed using the existing platform and was used to support the key aspects in performing inventory classification and purchasing optimization.
Findings
The proposed classification system was found to be able to classify the inventory and optimize the purchasing decision efficiency. Based on the information provided from the system, implementation plans for the SOPSYS project and related space projects can be proposed.
Research limitations/implications
The paper addresses one of the main difficulties in handling qualitative or quantitative classification criteria. The model can be implemented using mathematical calculation tools and integrated into the existing inventory management system. The proposed model has important implications in optimizing the purchasing decisions to shorten the research and development of other space instruments in space missions.
Originality/value
Inventory management in the manufacture of space instruments is one of the major problems due to the complexity of the manufacturing process and the large variety of items. The classification system can optimize purchasing decision-making in the inventory management process. It is also designed to be flexible and can be implemented for the manufacture of other space mission instruments.
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