Boeing

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Aloha Airlines today announced that the Honolulu-based airline is the first U.S. carrier, and the second in the world, to purchase the Boeing "Enterprise One" software system, which will help enhance fleet utilization, decrease maintenance costs and increase employee productivity.

Aloha will begin installing the software later this month. Enterprise One is a set of integrated software modules that provide an enterprise resource-planning tool specifically tailored to the air transport industry. It helps airlines optimize major support functions such as maintenance planning and scheduling, engineering operations, logistics management, document management, and configuration control. Key benefits include reduced overhead costs and better management of airline asset availability.

"All the modules of Enterprise One are designed to integrate seamlessly, forming a comprehensive and digitally based management system," said Rich Higgins, vice president of Maintenance Engineering and Publications for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. "At the same time, the modular design makes it easy for airlines to select just the portions they need to meet their specific requirements."

Aloha Airlines will install four Enterprise One components:

• The engineering module will allow Aloha to significantly improve the management of airplane configuration and modification information. It also will provide direct access to new digital data products available from Boeing.
• The logistics module will significantly increase Aloha's ability to track spare part inventory levels, monitor the usage history of components and predict demand for parts. It also will give Aloha the ability to manage and measure supplier activity in more detail.
• The maintenance module will help Aloha improve maintenance efficiency and effectiveness by consolidating maintenance programs and maximizing the allowable time between maintenance checks. These improvements will allow Aloha to reduce airplane out-of-service time and increase revenue earning potential.
• The warranty module will provide Aloha with a more effective means to manage and track warranty claims on components. The module will significantly simplify the process needed to track individual parts, their dates of use, sources of supply, repair histories, anticipated maintenance needs and claims.

"We plan to begin our installation of Enterprise One with the maintenance module because of the high business value of improving planning functions," said John Brom, vice president of Maintenance at Aloha Airlines.