Boeing and Fujitsu Form Strategic Alliance in Airline Information Maintenance Services
SEATTLE, Dec. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Fujitsu have established a strategic alliance in which the companies will develop a service to enable greater efficiency in aircraft maintenance operations. The partnership will employ unique tools such as Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) and Contact Memory Buttons (CMB) to allow customers to use these technologies without needing to retrofit their own fleets. Airlines can reduce costs by reducing inventory and manual data entry errors without having to create new processes.
Under the new alliance, Fujitsu will provide Boeing with a globally-shared platform that includes automated identification technology devices, device readers, software applications and a system integration and deployment service. Boeing will tailor solutions for each customer's needs, integrate those solutions into the customer's operational environment and establish a long-range plan that will expand automated identification technology solutions across the customer's enterprise. Boeing plans to launch this service (with a formal name) for airlines in the first quarter of 2012. The service will be available for Boeing and non-Boeing fleets and will be rapidly adaptable to any customer.
"We have been working with Boeing for more than five years to promote RFID implementation in the aviation industry and we are very excited to start this project jointly," said Mitsutoshi Hirono, corporate vice president Fujitsu Limited.
The Boeing Transformation Service will enable customers to better manage aircraft components, equipment and materials by retrofitting them with automated identification technology devices, allowing automated data management and highly visible supply chain related maintenance processes. Prior to the launch of the new service in early 2012, the service will undergo three phases of beta testing through deployment with a launch customer.
"Our customers have told us they need these types of innovative solutions to improve operational efficiency," said Per Noren, vice president, Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, Information Services. "We see an opportunity for the aviation industry that surpasses past expectations in establishing this partnership with Fujitsu."
About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is a leading provider of ICT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 170,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics that deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited [TSE: 6702] reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$50 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.
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SOURCE Boeing