What are the most effective ways to manage ground handling inventory and supply chains?
Ground handling is a vital part of airline operations, but it also involves complex and costly inventory and supply chain management. How can you optimize your ground handling resources and reduce waste, delays, and errors? In this article, you will learn about some of the most effective ways to manage your ground handling inventory and supply chains, such as:
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Mehmet Ilker BasaranDirector at Turkish Airlines
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Ashwani SharmaPROFESSOR (of Practice) at University Institute of Engineering - CHANDIGARH UNIVERSITY Vice Chairman, AERONAUTICAL…
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Mostafa EldeepVersatile Professional | 14+ Yrs Airlines & Airport Ops at Qatar Airways | Expert in Travel Consulting, Content…
One of the key challenges of ground handling inventory and supply chain management is to match the demand for services and equipment with the available supply. Demand forecasting is the process of using historical data, current trends, and future projections to estimate the level and timing of demand for different ground handling activities. By using accurate and reliable demand forecasting methods, you can plan your inventory and supply chain accordingly, avoiding overstocking or understocking, and improving your service quality and efficiency.
Another important aspect of ground handling inventory and supply chain management is to optimize your inventory levels and locations. Inventory optimization is the process of finding the optimal balance between inventory costs and service levels, taking into account factors such as demand variability, lead times, replenishment frequency, and storage capacity. By using inventory optimization tools and techniques, you can reduce your inventory holding and handling costs, increase your inventory turnover and availability, and minimize your inventory obsolescence and shrinkage risks.
A third effective way to manage your ground handling inventory and supply chain is to integrate your supply chain processes and partners. Supply chain integration is the process of aligning and coordinating your supply chain activities and information flows with your internal and external stakeholders, such as suppliers, customers, airports, and regulators. By using supply chain integration strategies and technologies, you can enhance your supply chain visibility and collaboration, streamline your supply chain operations and transactions, and increase your supply chain agility and responsiveness.
A fourth effective way to manage your ground handling inventory and supply chain is to adopt and leverage technology solutions that can improve your inventory and supply chain performance. Technology adoption is the process of selecting and implementing technology systems and applications that can support your inventory and supply chain management functions, such as inventory tracking, ordering, delivery, invoicing, and reporting. By using technology adoption best practices and innovations, you can automate and simplify your inventory and supply chain processes, increase your data accuracy and security, and enable real-time monitoring and control of your inventory and supply chain.
A fifth effective way to manage your ground handling inventory and supply chain is to pursue continuous improvement opportunities that can enhance your inventory and supply chain outcomes. Continuous improvement is the process of identifying and implementing incremental changes that can improve your inventory and supply chain processes, practices, and performance, based on feedback, data analysis, and benchmarking. By using continuous improvement methods and tools, you can monitor and measure your inventory and supply chain results, identify and solve your inventory and supply chain problems, and implement and evaluate your inventory and supply chain improvements.
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Ashwani Sharma
PROFESSOR (of Practice) at University Institute of Engineering - CHANDIGARH UNIVERSITY Vice Chairman, AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA (BOM Branch)
1) SINGLE POINT 24X7X365 CONTACT : Whether an airline has a PBH contract with any reputed parts supplier or it sources spares from multiple entities without an agreement, it is absolutely imperative to have a single point contact. Many an expensive AOG situations have been averted by adhering to this simple rule. 2) ANTICIPATORY REGULATORY COMPLIANCE : Understanding the regulatory system of all potential jurisdictions from where spares are sourced is of utmost importance. There are numerous instances of break in supply chain owing to last minute local regulatory compliance issues. Hence a prior understanding and an effective strategy to handle and/or circumvent such seemingly minor issues goes a long way in ensuring seamless spares supply .
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Mostafa Eldeep
Versatile Professional | 14+ Yrs Airlines & Airport Ops at Qatar Airways | Expert in Travel Consulting, Content Moderation, Customer Service | Certified Digital Marketer | QA, Administration & Leadership Pro
The key is using data to gain visibility and predict future needs. This allows airlines to have just enough inventory to meet service levels while minimizing costs. Strong supplier relationships and technologies also enable agility in the ground handling supply chain.
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