Does sourcing aircraft part repairs make you want to scream?

Source. Process. Chase. Repeat.

Hundreds of part numbers. A dozen ATA chapters. And an overabundance of possible MROs, all over the world.

Being connected to many executives for large operators, I hear about this problem constantly.

Aircraft parts get removed from aircraft for repair, but the process of actually repairing each part consumes so much time.

It pulls from the team’s core activities and it often feels like more of a time-wasted distraction than an investment.

There’s the standard, time-consuming way

As an operator, when a repair need comes up, most would log in to a database, type in the part number and see who has the capability.

Then, you’ll send dozens of emails for repair averages. Some people will reply, others won’t.

You’ll then try to make some calls. You’ll be put on hold, some won’t answer and in the end, you've invested a good hour of your time.

Sourcing aircraft part repairs is very time-consuming. Because once you get your information, you then have to sort all the information.

It’s a pain. Time is money. So is your sanity.

Streamline your repair sourcing with a simple consolidation strategy

There are many repair partners that have the ability to quote 95% of all ATA chapters.

Are they all good?

Of course not.

When you begin working with a trusted repair partner that can easily give up to 1,000 repair quotes without you searching a database, sending tons of emails and then processing all the information, it can be a valuable investment.

An investment of time.

In order to find the best partner, it’s key to have a clear conversation around all your repair needs.

By starting out with a discussion around your needs, your partner is able to provide information around their repair averages and turn-around times.

This is vital to set up your relationship for success!

As you make your repair sourcing easier, look out for three things:

1.      Email and Call Response Times: How quickly a potential repair partner responds in these early stages of sourcing will be a light on how the communication will go once your partnership is further down the line.

2.      Ability to Answer Questions: They should be able to quickly and effectively explain their expertise in a way that you understand so that you can be comfortable that your needs will be addressed.

3.      Friendliness: No one wants to work with a Debbie Downer. Don’t you want a partner that you actually enjoy conversing with? Well, their friendliness in the beginning can be an indicator of whether you will enjoy working with them down the line.

Overall, establishing a strong relationship with a trusted repair partner can be an exceptional way to save you time and streamline the process for repairing many of your aircraft parts.

Your Wings,

Nate Anglin