Parts engagement for tubing systems in aircraft through bin management solutions

PFW Aerospace GmbH has been in operation for over 100 years. The company is seen as a global leader in the field of tubing systems and a key supplier in civil aircraft. The entire range of services also includes structural components, such as belly fairings, pressure bulkheads, pressurized floors, support constructions, RAT frames, landing flaps, lighting covers, ram-air outlets, APU compartments, and also fuel tanks.

PFW Aerospace GmbH, part of the Hutchinson Group, has locations in Speyer (Germany), Nuneaton (Great Britain), and Izmir (Turkey).

PFW Aerospace’s core competence is the processing of steel, aluminium, titanium, and also plastics (PEEK). Extensive production lines are complemented by a high level of process automation, engineering, and concept development, including series production support. This is further supplemented by their bended and welded pipe systems, structural components, and fuel tanks, which are represented together with their entire added value.

In 2007, PFW Aerospace was looking to improve their reliability, speed, and efficiency within their production floors across the organization. The company was also looking to improve their parts availability by a factor of 10 as well as improve their reactivity on urgent demands.

All of these elements were addressed through the development of a new strategic focus and execution of this strategy, a component of which was the collaboration with Boeing Distribution Services.

Through our parts and services optimization model analysis, we evaluated the situation at PFW Aerospace and implemented a bin management solution. Due to the complexity and diverse range of parts, we also introduced a bin management service site manager to help support the coordination of stock for their production. This allowed PFW Aerospace to ensure parts were readily available at all points of production in a timely manner.

As their only integration supply chain solutions provider, we also provide standard hardware and chemical solutions across all three locations in addition to our bin management solutions in Germany and Turkey.

The bin management solution implemented in 2007 at PFW Aerospace was the first one adopted in Germany by Boeing Distribution Services.

• We have consistently delivered performance of 98+% over the past 14 years.
• Our bin management solution has helped:
  • Improve production effectiveness
  • Reduce throughput times
  • Reduce buffer stocks
• Focus on their core business with peace of mind that we continue to support their operational needs
• Ensure a healthy and trustful supply chain of parts and chemicals
• Single supplier thus saving time in the sourcing process and reducing operational workload