Gameco Grows Expendables Cooperation With Satair

Danish aftermarket component supplier Satair reports that more operators are choosing integrated supply chain partnerships to simplify operations, which it says provides cost efficiencies that can be difficult to achieve through traditional multi-vendor sourcing.

Earlier in November, Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (Gameco) expanded its cooperation with Satair on expendable materials. Satair has shared more details with Aviation Week Network about the arrangement, as well as the technical challenges encountered during the initial rollout.

The deal, announced Nov. 6 at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, brings all of Satair’s existing support for the Chinese MRO into one exclusive Integrated Material Services (IMS) package for the Airbus A350, A330 and A320.

The expanded IMS framework is designed to support intensive A350 heavy checks by ensuring material availability and supply chain reliability, a Satair spokesperson tells Aviation Week Network.

“The expanded IMS framework optimizes material flow for A350 heavy checks by ensuring the highest level of material availability and supply chain efficiency, which significantly lowers overall operational costs and capital expenditure."

The IMS model provides end-to-end management of expendable materials, from forecasting and planning to supplier management and delivery. Integration with Airbus systems and customer operations enables proactive planning, while an on-site IMS team at Gameco’s facility facilitates communication and data management during maintenance operations.

According to Satair, performance is tracked against defined metrics.

“The primary [key performance indicator] is service level performance, where Satair commits to an overall high percentage availability for all part numbers covered in the IMS scope,” says a Satair representative. Additional indicators include inventory turn rate efficiency, discrepancy rates and customer satisfaction.

A central feature of the framework is the handling of locally consigned expendables. Under a “pay after usage” model, parts are placed in an on-site consignment stock (OSS) owned by Satair, eliminating financing costs and reducing the risk of dead stock.

“The customer has no recurring stock holding, financing cost or risk of dead stock, as invoicing is only triggered by the issuance (consumption) of the part from the OSS,” a Satair representative says. The remainder of demand is met through Satair’s global warehouses or direct supplier shipments, with replenishment aligned to consumption to prevent redundant stock build-up and duplication across the customer’s local base and the global supply chain.

Gameco’s initial IMS rollout in 2022 presented technical hurdles, particularly around data migration and system integration, which Satair reports are common challenges for onboarding new customers. Gameco’s legacy inventory and maintenance planning data had to be harmonized with Satair’s global forecasting systems.

To address this, Satair collaborates with a customer’s IT department to establish automated data sharing processes, ensuring accurate and continuous operational data for parts planning and replenishment by the IMS team.