When you hear the 3 letters, A-O-G, it makes you cringe.

Your heart rate pumps at high speeds and the frantic, I-have-to-fix-this-now mindset begins.

I agree it’s stressful, but if you'rE prepared before the AOG, it’ll make your aviation life  much easier.

That’s why I compiled this simple, yet effective list so you are prepared going into an AOG battle.

1. Have your top rotable, consumable, and expendable partner on speed dial.
2. Review a list of your past AOGs and build a theme around reoccurring part numbers.
3. Have a partner stock their inventory with your AOG components so you don’t have to.
4. Constantly review your logistical network from your top partners.
5. Delegate certain responsibilities so you can focus on the big issue.
6. Give yourself no more than 30 minutes to procure the AOG component so you can avoid unnecessary delays of indecisiveness.
7. Use a freight forwarder who knows what an AOG means.
8. Your freight forwarder should have a large route network.
9. Calculate your opportunity cost based on various options.
10. Consolidate mutliple line items to mitigate risk.
11. Keep in close contact with your top supplier so they are up to date with your operation.
12. Talk with your supplier, 24/7 via email, phone, or Skype.
13. Have face to face meetings with your top supplier so trust is continually built.
14. Prepare multiple contingencies for every AOG solution.
15. Take 10 deep breaths before making a decision.
16. Automate your AOG procurement process.
17. Reduce mass emails as this adds a level of complexity you may not see.
18. Reduce mass emails as an airline with an AOG increases market 15% - 25%.
19. Take advantage of a pooling program so you invest more on operations and less on stock.
20. Forecast your high usage consumables and utilize an On-Demand & Just In Time service so you have the items as you need them without over investing in inventory.
21. Have weekly meetings with your partners so they’re always on the same level as you.
22. Use partners that you feel are like your own internal employees.
23. Review your mean time between event (MTBE), mean time between removal (MTBR), mean time between unscheduled removal (MTBUR=MTBU), mean time between failure (MTBF) regularly.
24. Use the Pareto Analysis to pinpoint repeat issues with the biggest impact and solve them.
25. Your freight forwarder should be available 24/7.
26. Utilize GPS tracking for your high value AOG freight for piece of mind.
27. Build a friendship with your dedicated account manager.

As you can see there are  many ways to prepare for an AOG. Often times people over complicate this process and engineer complex systems that are not able to accommodate an AOG as it’s happening.

They do a great job analyzing and forecasting potential problems, but once an AOG occurs, it just needs to be resolved…by a human, using close relationships with key partners.

It’s as simple as that.

Do you take advantage of any of these AOG suggestions?

P.S. We have an AOG program that utilizes distribution networks and logistical partners all over the world. Interested? Contact your dedicated account manager here.