The Future Landscape of Repair and Overhaul in Aviation

The aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) landscape is undergoing a massive shift. Technological innovation and digital applications are driving huge changes in the industry, and providers need to keep up if they want to survive.

However, it can be tough trying to stay updated with seemingly endless tech news. That’s why we’re here. Let’s explore three innovative trends that are currently on the rise in the aviation and repair landscape!

Globalized Data Management

The first trend that we’ll look at is globalized data management. Driven by progress in cloud technologies and enterprise software, maintenance providers are now able to integrate and connect their business into a single library of information. Let’s explore why this is meaningful for MRO affairs.

First, universal dataflow is impactful because it increases visibility in your organization: all your data-related activities are under a centralized warehouse. That means more effective and streamlined reporting workflows, as well as faster downstream access to information whenever it’s needed.

Globalized data management can also generate operational value because it offers a single source of truth. All stakeholders can read from a universal resource, so you’ll never deal with redundant or inaccurate information. Furthermore, decision makers can quickly evaluate cross-functional contexts without needing to compile information from different places. As we get into our other trends, we’ll see more of why global data practices are so important.

Progress With IoT

The next big development to watch is with Internet of Things (IoT) technology. In general, IoT-based inventions can communicate with other devices over shared networks — while still performing their primary function! A great example is wifi-enabled doorbells, like Ring.

As this technology shifts to aerospace and maintenance, industrial applications called IIoT sensors are changing how MRO vendors make decisions. The connectivity of this technology has proven to be very useful for analytics - you can collect more and better data to analyze and evaluate your operations.

For example, IIoT sensors can be attached to the engine to track and store critical measurements (temperature, oil level, etc.) in real time. This data is constantly updated in the cloud so your team can proactively identify and resolve issues before they occur.

Aerospace and Analytics

One big challenge in aviation is balancing urgency with cost. Vendors need to repair equipment fast, but also keep their own costs down in the process. It's no surprise that players are looking for some way to gain an edge! With advanced analytics, they’ve found one.

Predictive analytics and its applications in maintenance have empowered vendors to predict the future. Harnessing the power of machine learning and statistical software, tools can now learn and recognize complex patterns buried deep within large amounts of data. The more information they evaluate, the more accurate they become!

By combining the power of IoT and the cloud, aerospace MRO solutions can instantly capture, and learn from big data sets within an integrated environment.

Over time, the analysis becomes so sophisticated that everything becomes predictable: what will break down, when it will happen, and even which spare parts to order now to be prepared! This type of tool can create immeasurable value in MRO operations, and the numbers prove it. Vendors who have implemented analytics in their MRO operations enjoy an average return on investment (ROI) of 1,000%.

Preparing For Takeoff

Technology is conquering the business world. In nearly every industry, digital tools enable businesses to offer better services, and aviation MRO is no exception.

The growth of cloud-based computing offers a cost-effective way to collect massive data into universal libraries, and IIoT progress is providing real-time information to fill those libraries. Combined with the power of predictive analytics, these three trends come together into a tremendous opportunity for MRO providers.

If you want to get in on these trends, check out Epiphany! With decades of experience in the digital space, their team of industry specialists know what it takes to successfully integrate technology with maintenance.

Find out how you can evolve digitally here!