IN THE SPOTLIGHT
MRO Europe in Barcelona - 22-24 October
Come and join us on our booth #7036 to meet us, our subsidiaries and joint-ventures, each offering specialized solutions:
- Barfield, our expert in Ground Support Test Equipment (GSTE), offering customized support for aircraft such as the A320, 737 and 777,
- CRMA, supporting airlines and MROs with advanced solutions for a wide range of engine components, including the CFM56, GE90, and LEAP engines,
- EPCOR, our center of excellence for repair of APUs (Auxiliary Power Units) and components,
- KLM UK Engineering, dedicated regional and narrow-body aircraft base maintenance,
- Bonus Tech, a leading provider of engine teardown services, expert in disassembling and inspecting high-value engine types like the CFM56 and CF6.
Together, they highlight the comprehensive MRO capabilities of the AFI KLM E&M global network, serving a wide range of aviation needs.
Innovation in Action: The MRO Lab Corner on our booth #7036
Customers, competitiveness, sustainable development, transformation, risk management, continuous improvement,... Many topics in which innovation can make a crucial difference.
Our experts at The MRO Lab already had the opportunity to present demos of new products and added-value processes: additive manufacturing, use of collaborative robots “cobots”, drones’ inspection,…. This year at MRO Europe, the focus will be on Generative AI, showcasing various tools designed to transform the way our teams work while also enhancing operations, customer experience and helping our employees in their day to day business.
Join us at our Innovation corner on booth #7036 to discover Charlie, our part number finder that allows engineers to instantly pinpoint the perfect part number, associated tasks, and essential documentations. You will also be introduced to our Voice to Text solution that enables teams to effortlessly log reports into ERP systems using just their voice.
These, along with other exciting solutions, are driving the future of our innovation at The MRO Lab of AFI KLM E&M. Come and meet Ahmoss Messayeh, our E&M Group Innovation Director, to see live demonstrations and discover how we can take the operations to the next level!
Cambodia Airways became our 100th On-Wing Services (OWS) client after a rapid High-Pressure Nozzle Guide Vane (HP NGV) replacement, saving the day for a grounded aircraft in Kuala Lumpur. Thanks to our team's quick, precise work, the aircraft was back in operation in no time, showcasing our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. Curious to see how we did it? Watch the timelapse video and learn more about our solutions.
INDUSTRY TRENDS
Navigating Engine Supply Chain Challenges: An Interview with Jean-Louis Forest, SVP Group Engine Product at AFI KLM E&M
In the face of global supply chain disruptions, we are demonstrating resilience and adaptability. We sat down with Jean-Louis Forest, our recently appointed Senior Vice President of Group Engine Product, to discuss how the Group is mitigating the impact of various engine supply chain issues on its supporting fleet, including AFKL Group airlines and third-party customers.
Jean-Louis, first of all congratulations on your new role. Can you tell us about AFI KLM E&M’s approach to maintaining high service standards despite the current supply chain issues?
Jean-Louis Forest: Thank you for the congratulations. Let me first emphasize that our Airline-MRO DNA urges us deliver the same level of service and excellence to clients’ fleet as we do to our mother airlines. This approach involves a coordinated effort across multiple teams within our organization, both on long-term and short-term aspects.
Could you elaborate on long-term perspective? How are teams mobilized to tackle the engine supply chain challenges?
JLF: Our Engineering Team plays a crucial role by monitoring the fleet through our range of engineering services, including Engine Condition Monitoring and predictive maintenance (our Prognos® for Engine solution). By doing so, we can anticipate upcoming scheduled removals (whether due to EGT margin or part failures), taking into account the clients operating environments. In complement, our Fleet Management and Pool Management teams optimize fleet utilization and minimize AOG risks in staggering operations based on spare engine availability and using a dedicated pool of spare engines. By maintaining an adequate quantity of the latter, we guarantee operational efficiency and reliability for both AFKL Group airlines and our customer fleets. Managing and continuously optimizing engine removal plan for our customers is part of our Airline DNA!
What about your relationships with OEMs and suppliers?
JLF: Maintaining strong, long-term relationships with OEMs and critical repair suppliers is essential. Our Purchasing and Supplier Management teams engage in daily discussions with these partners to address critical items and to communicate our short-term and medium-term needs, as well as to understand global demands. This tracking helps us manage the supply chain more effectively and ensures that we can address any issues promptly.
You mentioned earlier that your approach was also based on short-term actions; how do you mitigate supply chain disruptions during the Shop Visits process?
JLF: When the engine is in our shop, we focus on workscoping to limit maintenance activities to what is strictly necessary. Not more. We also anticipate parts requirements prior to or at engine induction. Additionally, we offer alternatives such as standard exchanges or used serviceable material to keep operations running smoothly. Our daily management of providers, supported by structured escalation processes when needed, aids speeding up the delivery of any missing items.
In summary, what would you say is the key to AFI KLM E&M’s success in navigating these supply chain challenges?
As we all know the global supply chain situation is tense, and it will take some time for the situation to improve. In the meantime, the key for us lies in our proactive and collaborative approach. By leveraging our engineering expertise, maintaining strong supplier relationships, optimizing fleet management, and being flexible with maintenance solutions, we do our utmost to reduce the negative consequences of supply chain disruptions, to support both our AFKL Group airlines and our clients effectively.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET AND CONNECT
Marrakech Airshow – 30 October–2 November
Aymeric Méchin, VP Sales Middle East and Africa, Panel Speaker on October 31st
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