The Safran Spare Parts network: an after-sales system that changes everything!

Whether related to a breakdown or a scheduled maintenance operation, grounding an aircraft represents a heavy financial burden for airlines. Delivering spare parts as quickly as possible is therefore a key concern for them... and for Safran companies! However, in a context of strong growth in air transport, satisfying this need requires the deployment of ever greater logistical and human resources.

 

All around the world

To take on this challenge, Safran Nacelles and Safran Landing Systems, as well as JV Aero GearBox International¹, have pooled their after-sales distribution capacities within the Spare Parts network, created by the Group's Supply Chain department in 2016. Objective: to make proximity an advantage by offering airlines and their MRO partners greater responsiveness and flexibility⁽²⁾. This network consists of warehouses with modular dimensions that allow the storage of all types of spare parts. “The Spare Parts network comprises four logistics platforms located in key regions for air traffic: Dallas, Dubai, Singapore and Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle in the Paris region, explains Fabienne Dierckx, Supply Chain and Logistics Manager at Safran. 

With this coverage, a 24-hour service is provided 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Day+1 deliveries take place in standard, that is to say non-urgent mode. In the event of an aircraft being grounded³ following a technical incident, an extremely rapid response is required. The parts are then shipped by the AOG Desk from the nearest platform within two hours of the request.”

 

Substantial savings

Performances of this level require a flawless organization, the foundation on which the system is built: “We entrusted the organization to a specialist in transport solutions, DB Schenker, our partner in deploying the network and its operation: call reception, parts storage, inventory management, order preparation and dispatch, etc.,” explains Fabienne Dierckx. Using Safran’s information systems, the companies participating in the network directly track their orders and activate the replenishment of parts as necessary. Philippe Gaulier, Safran Supply Chain Director explains: “This double pooling of resources, covering both storage and order management, presents a valuable advantage in terms of logistics costs. Our goal is to achieve 12% savings in four years. And the more member companies there are, the greater the economies of scale." To further boost savings, some platforms are also shared with outside companies. This is the case at Roissy, which shares its storage space with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer.

 

Satisfied customers

Two Group subsidiaries will join the network in early 2019: Safran Power Units in San Diego and Safran Filtration Systems. In the long term, all Safran entities will be able to make this choice, including within Zodiac Aerospace. “This network is a step towards the overall optimization of our supply chain and contributes to the One Safran approach to pooling all our processes, currently being conducted within the Group”, adds Fabienne Dierckx before concluding: “For Safran, this means a more efficient distribution of spare parts, both operationally and economically. For our customers, it represents a gain in service quality and satisfaction!”

 

Learn more

Safran’s Spare Parts distribution network comprises:

• 4 logistics platforms worldwide
• more than 10,000 m² of storage space
• 2,600 order lines processed daily (supply and deliveries)
• 12% savings for companies participating in the network

 

⁽¹⁾ Joint venture between Safran Transmission Systems and Rolls-Royce

⁽²⁾ Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul

⁽³⁾ AOG (Aircraft On Ground)