Asia-Pacific Leads In MRO Digitalization Evolution | 亚太地区引领MRO数字化进程

当新冠病毒疫情在2020年初爆发时，人们自然会假设一些希望降低成本的公司也会减缓成本高昂的新技术部署的脚步，即使在亚太等数字化进程相对领先的地区也是如此。一些拥有必要资源和财政支持的MRO公司也选择放弃他们先前的承诺，而有些甚至希望提出新的数字驱动创新。但是，这些希望很大程度上都取决于公司的构成。

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, a natural assumption was that costly and often lengthy technology rollouts would be curtailed by companies looking to save costs, even in digitally progressive regions like the Asia-Pacific. MROs with the necessary resources and financial backing have opted to see out their preexisting commitments, while some have even looked to bring forward new digitally driven innovations. However, this is very much dependent on the makeup of the company.

“在此期间拥有技术升级趋势的公司，在某种程度上取决于疫情流行前的公司状况，以及危机期间获得政府援助的水平，因此即使在同一区域的情况也并不相同，”技术供应商IFS公司商业航空副总裁Mike Egan说。“但是总体而言，亚太地区一直处于技术升级领先地位，其次是北美，再次是欧洲。”

“The ability to lean forward during this period is somewhat dependent on the state of the business pre-pandemic and the level of government support received during the crisis, so this is not completely regional-based,” says Mike Egan, vice president for commercial aviation at technology vendor IFS.  “However, generally Asia-Pacific has been leading the charge, followed by North America and lagged by Europe.”

Egan表示，亚太地区的MRO供应商现在认识到老化的IT系统是数字化转型的障碍。“虽然不如大数据分析等技术的发展令人兴奋，但这些企业主要的优先事项是更换核心MRO系统，这些系统将构成创新的基础，而其中大部分系统是15~20年前建立的、基于已实施的通用企业资源规划系统上的传统MRO解决方案，”他说。

Egan says Asia-Pacific MRO providers now recognize that aging IT systems act as barriers to digital transformation. “While less exciting than developments such as big-data analytics, a major priority for these businesses is replacing the core MRO systems that form the foundation for this innovation, many of which are legacy MRO solutions built on generic enterprise resource planning systems that were implemented 15 to 20 years ago,” he says.

这对于使用老式软件系统运行的航空公司维护部门来说尤其如此。其他公司，例如新加坡航空公司及其MRO附属公司SIA工程（SIAEC），仍拥有推出多项数字计划的资源。尽管新冠疫情导致公司收入同比下降55.4%，但SIAEC仍计划在未来三年内向数字化投资约4000万新元（约3020万美元）。其数字化转型包括引入自己的Smart-MX软件系统，使生产线维护工程师能够以数字方式访问以获取信息和决策支持。

This has been especially true for airline maintenance divisions operating from aging software systems. Others, such as Singapore Airlines and its MRO affiliate, SIA Engineering (SIAEC), have the resources to introduce several digital initiatives. Despite a 55.4% year-on-year revenue hit owing to COVID-19, SIAEC plans to invest around S$40 million ($30.2 million) in digital initiatives over the next three years. Its digital transformation includes the introduction of its own Smart-MX software system, enabling digital access to line maintenance engineers for information and decision support.

运营规模较小的运营商正在寻找更谨慎的方式来推动运营方式的改变。柬埔寨航空公司Bassaka Air的工程和维护总监Derwin Sandoval表示，由于该公司的机队较小，只有两架空客A320，因此该公司选择不采用无纸化运营。相反，他们专注于其飞行运营并创建了一个电子飞行包（EFB）解决方案将纸质文件数字化。

Carriers operating on a smaller scale are looking at more measured ways of driving operational improvements. Derwin Sandoval, director of engineering and maintenance at Cambodian carrier Bassaka Air, says the carrier has chosen not to go paper-less owing to its small fleet of just two Airbus A320 aircraft. Instead, it has focused on its flight operations and creating an electronic flight bag (EFB) solution to digitize paper documents.

中国的数字化创新 Digital Innovation in China

亚太地区数字化工作发展最快的市场是中国。GAMCEO首席执行官Norbert Marx认为，中国的应对方式良好，在数字技术的采用和发展方面处于领先地位。“这是因为它的市场规模大，社会对数字化风险、投资，以及国家对信息技术管理的支持政策有较高的容忍度，”他说。然而，中国采用数字化的数量和意愿本身就会给那里的MRO带来挑战。

The fastest-moving digitalization efforts in the Asia-Pacific region have been in China. Norbert Marx, CEO of Gameco, believes the country has responded well to digital technology and has a leading position in terms of adoption and development. “This is because of its large-scale market, the higher tolerance of the society to digital risk, investment and the state’s supporting policies for information and technology management,” he says. However, the volume and willingness to adopt digital methods in China can itself result in challenges for MROs there.

GAMCEO开发了一系列这样的项目：推出移动化航线维护管理系统、电子签名卡、共享工具箱、飞机外部扫描和缺陷识别、射频识别技术在材料和工具设备管理中的应用，以及在发动机测试培训中使用AR眼镜和VR技术等。“目前，我们正在将维护管理系统升级为完全集成的整体数字化系统，”Marx补充道。

Gameco has developed a series of such projects: rollout of a mobile route maintenance management system, electronic signature cards, shared toolbox, aircraft external scanning and defect identification, application of radio-frequency identification technology in materials and tool equipment management, and the use of augmented reality glasses and virtual reality technology in engine test training, among others. “At present, we are upgrading the maintenance management system to a fully integrated overall digitized system,” Marx adds. 

相对于航空业其他领域因疫情而放缓，在这里相反的情况发生了。自2019年以来，GAMCEO的所有机库都建立了5G互联网网络，这是大部分数字化技术的基础。5G网络的部署将扩展到计划于今年在广州开放的面积59000平方米的机库，以及新部件和复合材料维修“5G将提供基础设施，实现电话、手机和其他交互平台的全面融合，进一步实现人员、工具、材料、设备的数字化，并连接生产管理系统的所有要素。所有要素可以实时交流，”Marx说。

Rather than slowing due to COVID-19, the opposite has occurred. Underpinning much of these investments is the move to a 5G internet network at all of Gameco’s hangars since 2019. This rollout will extend to its new 635,000-ft.2 hangar in Guangzhou, scheduled to open this year, and at new component and composite repair facilities earmarked to begin operation by 2022. “5G will provide the infrastructure to realize the full integration of telephone, mobile phone and other interactive platforms, further digitalization of personnel, tools, materials, equipment and to connect all elements of the production-management system in real time with each other,” Marx says.

发动机的维护 Engine Maintenance

该地区的发动机MRO企业也在寻找工作流程数字化的方法。MTU Maintenance为其集团公司制定了数字化4.0路线图，其中之一是发动机维修企业珠海摩天宇。该公司希望通过专注于改善客户体验和沟通方式，以及提高车间效率并简化管理流程以简化其日常运营。

Engine MROs in the region are also finding ways to digitize their processes. MTU Maintenance has a digitalization 4.0 road map in place for its group of companies, one of which is engine repair specialist Maintenance Zhuhai. The business has looked to simplify its day-to-day operation by focusing on improving customer experience and communication, as well as increasing shop efficiency and simplifying administrative processes.

“2019年，我们为客户构建并测试了一个现场服务应用程序。客户可以使用它来提出请求、跟踪发动机状态、访问所有必要的文件并提供反馈，”珠海摩天宇总裁兼首席执行官Jaap Beijer说。“我们还在我们的车间中引入了AGV车辆，以在我们的内部运输较小的物品。这些车辆沿着预先设定的路线行驶，并具有避免碰撞的安全功能。”

“In 2019, we built and tested an on-site services app for our customers. They can use this to place a request, track the status of their engine, access all necessary documents and give feedback,” says Jaap Beijer, president and CEO of MTU Maintenance Zhuhai. “We have also introduced automatically guided vehicles (robots) in our shop to transport smaller items in our internal logistics department. These vehicles travel along pre-programed routes and have built-in safety features to avoid collisions.”

2020年，该公司专注于改善客户商店体验，同时寻求推进其数字化计划。“我们全年开展了一项内部活动，邀请员工为我们的数字化路线图提交建议，”Beijer说。提交了100多个想法，珠海摩天宇现在专注于10个关键领域，包括创建数字流程等。“这条数字化流程将使我们能够在屏幕上而不是在车间现场规划我们的进度和车间组织，”他说，并补充说它的目标是在年底前上线。“此外，我们计划将我们的车间管理和通信解决方案以及一些与工作质量相关的流程（例如零件跟踪和数据处理）完全数字化。”

In 2020, the company focused on improving the customer shop experience while seeking to drive its digitalization plans forward. “We ran an internal campaign throughout the year, inviting employees to submit suggestions for our digitalization road map,” Beijer says. More than 100 ideas were submitted, and MTU Maintenance Zhuhai is now focusing on 10 key areas, including creating a digital flowline. “This digital flowline will enable us to plan our shop visit progress and shop floor organization on the screen rather than physically on the shop floor,” he says, adding that it aims to go live by year-end. “Additionally, we plan to completely digitize our shop floor management and communication solutions, as well as some quality-related processes such as parts-tracking and data handling.”

机身的维护 Airframe MRO

在亚太地区另一个率先采用数字化技术的是新加坡ST Engineering。自2017年以来，该公司制定了智能MRO战略，并用大数据分析和机器人检查等领域推动了一些公司内部工作，并将其推广到全球的其他维修设施。

Another regional player that has pioneered digital methods is ST Engineering. The company has developed its Smart MRO strategy since 2017 and has driven its work in-house across areas such as big-data analytics and robotics inspections, which it is rolling out to some of its facilities globally.

ST Engineering高级副总裁兼商业航空航天创新和持续改进负责人Lee Hui Fung表示，上述工作对其技术和创新投资计划没有影响。她解释说：“事实上，疫情的流行加快了我们在这方面的努力，尤其是在自动化和数据分析方面，因为我们更加注重实现成本效益，这些可以使我们事半功倍。”她指出该公司在其机身MRO运营中所进行工作就是其中一个案例。

Lee Hui Fung, senior vice president and head of innovation and continuous improvement 
for commercial aerospace at ST Engineering, says there was no impact on its plans to invest in technology and innovation. “In fact, the pandemic has accelerated our efforts in this regard, especially when it comes to automation and data analytics, as we focus more on achieving cost efficiency, and doing more with less,” she explains. She pinpoints the work the company has done across its airframe MRO operation as an example of this.

“我们在新加坡的机身MRO运营已经推进数字化工作已至少有10年，我们正在为我们的设施开发一个更加标准化的数字平台，”Fung说。“这种标准化平台的目标是实现更高水平的数据流动和收集效率。该平台还将有助于将销售和营销运营，并与我们的供应链和维护监督活动相结合，以实现跨职能的、更顺畅的工作流程。”

“Our airframe MRO operations in Singapore have gone digital for at least 10 years now, and we are working on a more standardized digital platform across our facilities,” Fung says. “The objective of such a standardized platform is to allow for an even higher level of efficiency in the flow and collection of data. The platform will also serve to integrate operations from sales and marketing with our supply chain and maintenance oversight activities for a smoother workflow across different functions.”

ENVIS（发动机视觉信息系统）也得到了改进，该系统于2018年开始运营，以实现发动机MRO业务的数字化。“此后已经或正在添加更多功能，以改善我们的工作流程，”Fung说。“其中包括用面部识别技术取代射频身份识别，使我们的工作更加安全。”

Improvements have also been gained through ENVIS (Engines Visual Information Systems), which was implemented in 2018 to digitalize the engine MRO business. “More functions and advanced features have since been, or are being added, to facilitate our work processes,” Fung says. “These include the replacement of radio-frequency identification with facial-recognition technology to make our work more secure.” 

自动化的兴起 Rise of Automation

Fung表示，其智能MRO计划更有效的结果可以在机器人技术的实施中看到，这有助于通过自动化来改善劳动密集型的工作以提高工作效率。“这在飞机维修活动激增的情况下尤其有价值，例如飞机客改货工作等……例如在飞机客改货时对地板结构的钻孔工作中，自动化技术将帮助公司通过更有效的人力部署和更好的质量控制来使实际工作跟上生产计划。”

Fung says a more visible result of its smart MRO initiatives can be seen in the implementation of robotics, which helps to improve work efficiency by automating the more labor-intensive tasks. “This is especially valuable in cases where there is a spike in activities, such as passenger-to-freighter conversion. . . . The introduction of automation, such as in the drilling process of the floor-grid structure during conversion, will help us to keep up with the production schedules through a more efficient deployment of manpower and better quality control.”

随着飞机维护变得更加自动化，一项关键挑战将是使用正确的解决方案，或开发正确的解决方案。“我们正处于一种技术和数字化爆发的‘仙境’中，因此主要挑战之一是在如此众多的选择和供应商中找到满足需求的最佳解决方案，”Beijer说到。他补充说，人为因素也将在数字计划的制定中发挥作用。

As maintenance becomes more automated, one key challenge will be adopting or developing the right solutions. “We are in a kind of technology and digitalization ‘wonderland,’ so one of the major challenges is to find the best technological solution possible for our needs among such a range of options and providers,” Beijer says. He adds that the human element will also play a role in developing digital initiatives.

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