One of the best ways to save money in the aircraft maintenance process is to ensure that all your decisions are controlled and precise. How do you do this? By establishing consistent and controlled workflows. And we have an established workflow. We understand what parts you need to do the job and when you need them.
Using a kitting service is the best way to do this and ensure you get the right parts every time.
As an aerospace company specializing in government procurement, Greenwood Aerospace recognizes the importance of kitting and parts procurement. We proudly offer logistics and supply chain solutions that maximize operational readiness and minimize your program's downtime. Our expert services also include:
- Aerospace Supply Chain & Logistics
- Ground Support Equipment
- Government Contracting
- Aircraft Leasing
- Military & Defense Contracting
- and more!
Contact us today to learn more about how we keep programs across the country operating at peak efficiency.
What is a kitting service? Let’s look at these services and how they can streamline your aircraft maintenance process.
What is Kitting in General?
Commercial aircraft are required to do maintenance checks in a specific tiered manner. Usually, there are A, B, and C checks, which increase intensity with each level. Certain items need to be replaced every inspection cycle. So, selling them as a kit makes more sense instead of individually ordering all the different parts for common repairs, often including gaskets, seals, and things like that.
Kits are assembled with batches of the most commonly requested parts for a given purpose. A top overhaul for a PT6A uses the same parts every single time, so it makes sense for a parts kit to be procured and built with all of these common parts.
It makes a ton of sense for the shop because they know they’ll need those parts every time they overhaul an engine, and it makes a lot of sense for us because we can procure these individual parts in bulk and assemble them into kits.
The purpose of kitting is two-fold: it’s good for the vendor because we can get more things out the door to you, the customer, faster. It is preferable for the customer because they (or you) get all of the order at once instead of it being disjointed.
Understanding Kitting in Aerospace: Enhancing Precision and Workflow
Kitting has been used successfully in all kinds of markets. Take Dollar Shave Club or any of the other health and beauty or cosmetic and clothing kitting services. They have made an indelible mark on eComm by throwing together boxed sets of items that consumers want to have together. It takes much of the thought process out of the purchase, which many consumers appreciate.
Kitting in aviation isn’t really that much different. The model is essentially the same; it is just a matter of a different product type and scale. But the concept of kitting doesn’t change at all.
Aerospace and aviation are heavily dependent on robust supply chains. Aircraft earn revenue only when they are operating, so it is extremely important to keep them in the air, and when they are down for scheduled maintenance, getting them back in the air is paramount.
Benefits of Kitting
The traditional order of logistics is one order=one shipment. If you need a hydraulic check valve, AN fittings, and a gasket set, they may be shipped from different vendors or warehouses. They might show up on different days, from different carriers, etc.
If all of these items were used together for a project, shipping them in one package from a single source makes much more sense. This is what kitting provides. Instead of several orders for parts that are already being used on a single project, they are packed and marketed as a kit. These kits are then processed by one individual SKU rather than a stack of SKUs.
The kitting process reduces material waste from unnecessary shipping and reduces time wasted waiting on separate packages to show up. You know how it goes: you ordered three or four different items for your home that work together, or maybe an outfit. You planned on wearing that outfit on Sunday, but the shirt doesn’t arrive until Monday. Well, the aviation supply chain is the same.
You could have assembled the propeller and completed the overhaul on Friday, but the gaskets are delayed until Tuesday. This ruins your workflow. If the whole kit were delayed, you could push the prop overhaul back until Tuesday and work on something else.
From there, the effect snowballs.
Kitting and Assembly Aren’t the Same
It is important to understand that kitting and assembly are not the same process. Using a kit aids in the assembly process. It makes logistics smoother and faster and keeps the cost down.
For example, you’re running an overhaul shop for propellers. You’re currently working on four-blade propellers for Beechcraft King Airs, and you will use the same parts repeatedly. The logical thing to do is to order them as a kit. Every kit will come with the right parts and the right amount of parts.
Even though the two things are definitely interrelated, they deal with different stages in the manufacturing process. Kitting refers to the logistical process of packaging all of the components for one specific task during the assembly. It is a preparation stage for assembly.
Components of the Kitting Process for Aerospace
Let’s take a look at a few of the components of the process for aerospace parts kitting. These include:
- Identification and Sourcing of Aircraft Parts
- Inventory Management and Control
- Packaging and Labeling
Identification and Sourcing of Aircraft Parts
The kit is going to be replicated over and over again, using standard common parts for a specified assembly or repair task.
One of the primary challenges in this process lies in the sourcing phase, where individual components for each kit may originate from multiple vendors. This can impact quality assurance, compatibility checks, and supply chain management. The need for strict identification protocols and a streamlined sourcing strategy can ensure consistency and reliability across replicated kits.
Kits are not for one-off projects; you’ll still have to research to determine individual part numbers. The individual parts for every kit may come from several vendors, which will be the challenge here.
Inventory Management and Control
Maintaining accurate inventory is paramount in creating parts kits. Inventory control is in certain parts of aviation logistics, especially in kitting applications. Just-In-Time inventory philosophy is a foundational part of the kitting process: the idea is that it is more efficient to order and receive it when you need it in the workflow rather than sitting on vast stores of bench stock or warehoused parts on site.
A kit is perfect for this ideation. An airplane propeller comes in for overhaul, so a kit with all the necessary parts is ordered and arrives when maintenance is scheduled to commence. Equally, benefits of inventory control are:
- Cost Savings: By minimizing excess inventory and associated carrying costs, effective inventory control contributes to significant cost savings for aerospace organizations.
- Enhanced Accuracy: Rigorous control measures improve inventory accuracy, reducing the likelihood of errors in kitting and assembly processes.
- Reduced Lead Times: Streamlined inventory processes lead to quicker retrieval of parts, reducing lead times in the assembly of kits and accelerating overall project timelines.
- Improved Order Fulfillment: Accurate inventory management supports timely order fulfillment, enhancing customer satisfaction and maintaining positive relationships with clients.
- Prevention of Stockouts: Proactive inventory control helps prevent stockouts, ensuring that all required components are readily available for kitting and assembly tasks.
- Demand Forecasting: Utilizing advanced inventory management tools enables accurate demand forecasting, allowing aerospace companies to anticipate requirements and plan accordingly.
- Space Optimization: Efficient inventory control helps optimize storage space, ensuring that valuable floor space is used effectively and minimizing storage-related expenses.
- Compliance Management: Rigorous control measures aid in compliance with industry regulations and standards, ensuring that kitted components meet the necessary certifications.
- Real-Time Visibility: Advanced inventory management systems provide real-time visibility into stock levels, enabling quick decision-making and facilitating a proactive approach to inventory challenges.
- Risk Mitigation: Effective inventory control strategies contribute to risk mitigation by minimizing the impact of disruptions such as supply chain issues or unexpected changes in demand.
These benefits underscore the critical role of inventory management and control in optimizing aerospace parts kitting. Without it, costly delays can stack up, hampering your flight program, or grounding it altogether.
Packaging and Labeling
Aircraft parts and components are very sensitive to the proper packaging for any given component. Especially when shipping to a military customer, who may require MIL-SPEC packaging, packaging requirements must be adhered to strictly.
MIL-SPEC packaging is a set of standardized packaging guidelines and specifications established by the military to ensure the secure and protected transport of sensitive components. These specifications encompass a range of considerations, from materials and dimensions to labeling and handling instructions. Ensuring these requirements are followed to a 'T' is essential to safeguard the integrity and functionality of aircraft parts during transit, especially for military operations where precision and reliability are non-negotiable. Proper packaging not only protects the components from potential damage but also aligns with regulatory standards, contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the aviation supply chain.
Looking for a specialist in MIL-SPEC packaging? Look no further! Greenwood Aerospace has you covered, providing the MIL-SPEC packaging services you need to meet any requirement.
Can You Outsource Kitting Services?
One question we get is whether or not kitting services can be outsourced. Of course they can!
We have connections to the best vendors in the industry and have spent the better part of four decades building those ties. We have the facility and staff to procure individual parts and build kits on-site to your exact specifications. And, of course, we specialize in MIL-SPEC packaging if it is required.
The Benefits of Outsourcing Aerospace Kitting Services
The core benefit of outsourcing your aerospace kitting needs is that we have already done all of the legwork to establish reliable supply chains. We have the network to provide any part you need, so you don’t have to.
This is more important than you think. Some vendors are very obscure, specializing in niche items. They might not have any social media presence or a website. But we know them. And we know the rest of them, too. The ones you need for building your kits are people we have worked with for years. Instead of rounding them up to assemble your kits, let us handle it instead.
Trusting an expert like Greenwood Aerospace with your kitting needs can also provide:
- Cost Savings: External kitting services often operate with economies of scale, reducing overall costs associated with procurement, inventory management, and assembly. This can lead to significant cost savings for aerospace organizations.
- Focus on Core Competencies: By outsourcing kitting services, aerospace companies can concentrate on their core competencies, such as design, manufacturing, and innovation, leaving the intricate details of kitting to dedicated specialists.
- Reduced Lead Times: Specialized kitting providers are equipped to optimize workflows, reducing lead times in the assembly process. This agility is crucial in meeting tight deadlines and improving overall project timelines.
- Quality Assurance: Many outsourcing partners adhere to rigorous quality control measures, ensuring that kitted components meet industry standards and specifications. This commitment to quality enhances the reliability and performance of aerospace systems.
- Risk Mitigation: Outsourcing mitigates risks associated with procurement, inventory management, and assembly errors. External providers often have robust risk management strategies in place, safeguarding against potential disruptions.
- Regulatory Compliance: Reputable kitting services are well-versed in industry regulations and compliance standards. Outsourcing to such providers ensures that the assembled kits adhere to the necessary certifications and regulatory requirements.
- Enhanced Supply Chain Visibility: Outsourcing partners often leverage advanced technologies for supply chain management, providing enhanced visibility into the movement of components. This transparency contributes to better decision-making and improved overall supply chain efficiency.
- Innovation and Technology Integration: External kitting services may bring innovation and advanced technologies to the assembly process, incorporating the latest tools and techniques for improved efficiency and precision like our exclusive GPIQ Part Procurement Intelligence.
Greenwood Aerospace’s Aviation Support Services
Building your parts kits is a big deal; it fills a void in the industry. But sourcing all of the vendors to pull together a parts kit and doing seven the time now it’s tough. That’s where Greenwood Aerospace comes in.
We can handle the parts procurement, and we can handle the kitting process. Need MIL-SPEC packaging? We can handle that too. We can also warehouse your parts until they need to be shipped out.
Contact us today to get started, or email us at sales@governmentprocurement.com for larger inquiries. We look forward to working with you!
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