Design And Development of An Inventory Management System in Aircraft Tools and Equipment’s Using Radio Frequency Identification

Abstract

Airplanes are supposed to undergo routine checks before and after flying for a determined number of hours. If not managed well, maintenance could lead to delays and the associated loss of revenue due to penalties and refunds to customers. With the ongoing improvement of technology and equipment, tool handling is becoming more and more of an issue for Aircraft Maintenance companies. There is a greater requirement for a company to use variety of tools. This in turn causes for some tools to be misplaced or to be unorganized. Usage of modern technology like RFID should be implemented for better efficiency in tool handling. Proper Tool Handling affects safety. Leaving a tool in an aircraft or engine is not just an inconvenience, it is a safety risk. Realizing this, most aircraft maintenance companies enforce some sort of tool control procedures that could be effective in properly identifying/organizing tools. The need for proper handling of tools in this industry is apparent but most mechanic often overlook this which becomes an issue that should be fix. Thus, a proper study and research on how maintenance, repair or overhaul mechanics handle tools should be done and having an inventory of tools prior to starting a task and ensuring that all tools are accounted for at the end of the task or at the end of the work day is the best way to ensure that no foreign objects are left in the aircraft.