Customized parts and services solution for aerospace production

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI) comprises about 100 group companies in Japan and overseas. Their technological capabilities send diverse products forth into wide-ranging fields that go beyond land, sea, and air, extending from the ocean depths to space. Within the aerospace division, products range from aircraft to satellites.

Other divisions include:

• Rolling stock
• Ship and offshore structure
• Energy solutions

The company is also active in wide-ranging businesses driven by diverse and high-level engineering technologies, including environmental and recycling plants, industrial plants, precision machinery, industrial robots, and infrastructure equipment. Plus, they operate a leisure and power products business that features the motorcycles known as the Kawasaki brand. Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. has been in operation for 120 years and currently has over 21 production facilities outside Japan and 17 domestically.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries were working with a number of suppliers and were looking for a better level of service from their parts distribution for their aerospace division. They were looking for an operational solutions partner that they could rely upon to deliver their parts requirements in a timely manner and at a competitive price and with the reassurance that stock would be available as and when they needed it.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI) selected Boeing Distribution Services because they wanted greater efficiency within their inventory management solutions within their aerospace division through a true service provider. As a one Boeing approach to KHI, Boeing Distribution Services are working with Boeing Aggregated Standards Network (BASN) to provide a direct solution. We are providing parts distribution to several aerospace production sites such as Japan Gifu Plant, Nagoya 1 & 2, and Lincoln Nebraska USA covering commercial and military programs.

With a relationship that spans over 20 years, Boeing Distribution Services has been working through trading companies in Japan. With the collaborative one Boeing approach, we were able to move to a direct engagement with the company to help streamline our efforts and increase efficiency by consolidation of the supply to deliver service and shorter lead times. Boeing Distribution Services also provides parts and chemicals through trading companies for their engine business at Akashi Works – including Honeywell™ proprietary parts. Solutions for KHI’s military business are undertaken indirectly, and this includes both parts and chemicals.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has a reliable operational solutions partner for their supply chain optimization needs. Benefits include:

• As part of the Boeing Global Services team including BASN, we are able to offer better parts availability.
• Better leverage with pricing on ad hoc business and bulk quantity demand.
• Improved inventory flow through careful planning and forecasting on contractual items.
• Enhanced stocking capability with Boeing Distribution Services' multiple facilities worldwide.
• Reduced KHI effort on export, through a customized solution with the dedicated Boeing Distribution Services team for parts distribution.
• Ability for the customer to focus on their core business with peace of mind that we continue to support their operational needs for their aerospace facilities.
• Adaptability to grow with their organization.