Integrated materials management for commercial aircraft fleets
First Claim
1. A method of centrally managing parts used to service multiple fleets of aircraft for customers by a single management network integrator, said network integrator a business entity, said network integrator a separate business entity from each of said customers, comprising the steps of:
- (A) said network integrator establishing an integrated network of part suppliers under the control of said network integrator, said network integrator solely responsible for managing the entire supply chain for said parts from a central operations center for said customers;
(B) said network integrator forwardly deploying parts from the part suppliers to customer designated sites;
(C) said network integrator maintaining information on an inventory of the parts owned by the part suppliers at each of the customer designated sites using the parts forwardly deployed in step (B), said information collected over a shared communications network; and
,(D) said network integrator managing the part inventories at the customer designated sites, said managing comprising sharing of data comprising said inventory and aircraft information between said network integrator, said part suppliers, and said customers over said shared communications network, said aircraft information comprising real-time operating data and as-flying configuration data, said shared communications network controlled by said network integrator and comprising a server at said central operations center and an on site server at said customer designated sites.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Turnkey maintenance of a customer'"'"'s aircraft fleet is managed by a single management service provider (MSP) controlling integrated maintenance and materials services from a central operations site. The MSP converts data received directly from on-board aircraft systems into information it uses to manage maintenance service providers and parts suppliers. The MSP contracts with and manages maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations (MROs) who perform the maintenance on the customers'"'"' aircraft at line and base stations. The MSP either remotely manages part inventories at the customer'"'"'s site, or manages suppliers who deliver the parts to the MROs. Maintenance planning, scheduling and execution information is exchanged between the MSP, MROs, part suppliers and the customers through a shared data communication network controlled by the MSP. The MSP charges the customer for the maintenance services based on a flat rate per unit of aircraft flying time.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A method of centrally managing parts used to service multiple fleets of aircraft for customers by a single management network integrator, said network integrator a business entity, said network integrator a separate business entity from each of said customers, comprising the steps of:
-
(A) said network integrator establishing an integrated network of part suppliers under the control of said network integrator, said network integrator solely responsible for managing the entire supply chain for said parts from a central operations center for said customers; (B) said network integrator forwardly deploying parts from the part suppliers to customer designated sites; (C) said network integrator maintaining information on an inventory of the parts owned by the part suppliers at each of the customer designated sites using the parts forwardly deployed in step (B), said information collected over a shared communications network; and
,(D) said network integrator managing the part inventories at the customer designated sites, said managing comprising sharing of data comprising said inventory and aircraft information between said network integrator, said part suppliers, and said customers over said shared communications network, said aircraft information comprising real-time operating data and as-flying configuration data, said shared communications network controlled by said network integrator and comprising a server at said central operations center and an on site server at said customer designated sites. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of centrally managing a supply chain of materials used to service fleet aircraft for customers by a single management network integrator, said network integrator a business entity, said network integrator a separate business entity from each of said customers, comprising the steps of:
-
(A) said network integrator organizing a network of material suppliers under control of said network integrator for supplying said materials to said customers, said network integrator solely responsible for managing the entire supply chain for said materials from a central operations center for said customers; (B) said network integrator designating a warehouse at each of a plurality of customer sites for storing the materials; (C) said network integrator maintaining information on an inventory of the materials owned by the suppliers at each of the warehouses, said information collected over a shared communications network; and
,(D) said network integrator managing the suppliers, and the inventories at each of the warehouses, said managing comprising sharing of data comprising said inventory and aircraft information between said network integrator, said suppliers, and said customers over said shared communications network, said aircraft information comprising real-time operating data and as-flying configuration data, said shared communications network controlled by said network integrator and comprising a server at said central operations center and an on site server at said customer designated sites. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An integrated central supply chain management system for materials used in servicing vehicle fleets for customers, said management system controlled by a single supply chain manager, said supply chain manager a business entity, said supply chain manager a separate business entity from said customers, comprising:
-
a network of material suppliers for supplying materials used in servicing the vehicles; a plurality of warehouses respectively located at customer designated sites for warehousing inventories of materials owned by the suppliers; an inventory at each of the warehouses of the materials supplied and owned by the suppliers; said supply chain manager managing the network of suppliers, the inventories in the warehouses and material sale transactions with the customers, said supply chain manager solely responsible for managing the entire supply chain for said materials from a central operations center for said customers; and
,a shared information communication network connecting the suppliers and the customers with the supply chain manager, said shared communications network controlled by said supply chain manager and comprising a server at said central operations center for collecting and maintaining information on said warehouse inventories and said vehicles and an on site server at said customer designated sites, said vehicle information comprising real-time operating data and as-operating configuration data received and stored at said central operations center. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
-
Specification