Reducing Cycle Times and Work in Process Management Costs

In Aerospace and Defense environments, the longer work stays in process, the longer the field has to wait for necessary equipment. Tracking Work in Process (WIP) is critical, yet the traditional way is challenging – managing it manually with clipboards and spreadsheets. This approach severely limits visibility into the status of WIP, and slows down the delivery of the equipment to the field.

With manual WIP processes, valuable time is spent searching for lost or misplaced equipment, instead of making progress on jobs. Even when skilled people know the physical location of equipment, they may not know its status, requiring more investigation into what work has already been completed and what’s next.

Moreover, the difficulty of gathering complete data – and centralizing access to that information – keeps valuable data in the hands of only a few. In turn, managers cannot make timely decisions about Maintenance, Repair and Overall Operations (MRO). These obstacles delay cycle times and increase costs. Aerospace and Defense organizations must have a real-time view into the physical location and status of all equipment and supplies in order to stay on time and competitive.

Today, radio frequency technology (RFID) has the power to transform Work in Process.