Coalition Report Recommends Steps to Improve Aerospace Supply Chain Integrity

The Aviation Supply Chain Integrity Coalition has released a report outlining measures aimed at preventing unapproved parts from entering the propulsion supply chain. The report recommends actions across three key areas: strengthening vendor accreditation, digitizing documents and signatures, and improving part traceability. These measures are categorized for short-, medium-, and long-term implementation.

Among the key recommendations are promoting suppliers that meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) standards outlined in Advisory Circular 00-56B or equivalent standards from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The report also advocates for the digitization of critical documents, such as FAA Form 8130 and EASA Form 1, and the expansion of digital signature usage. Additional recommendations include improving training for receiving and inspecting parts and creating best practices for scrapping unserviceable materials.

The coalition, formed after the discovery of counterfeit parts sold by AOG Technics, worked for nine months, holding biweekly meetings with over a dozen industry members. The report's findings are based on interviews with 38 experts and consultations with 24 organizations across the aerospace industry, including Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, parts brokers, airlines, and manufacturers.

Several companies have already begun implementing the report's recommendations. GE Aerospace has digitized records dating back to 2015 and plans to pilot the use of digital signatures in late 2024. StandardAero has developed a procedure to prevent unserviceable material from re-entering the supply chain, while Boeing is piloting a digitally authenticated version of the FAA 8130-3 Authorized Release Certificate in collaboration with a major airline.

The coalition has shared its findings with the FAA, EASA, and law enforcement agencies. Founding members include representatives from major aerospace organizations such as Airbus, Boeing, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Safran, and United Airlines.

Robert L. Sumwalt and John D. Porcari, co-chairs of the coalition, emphasized the importance of implementing these recommendations to enhance supply chain safety. Sumwalt noted that the recommendations aim to close gaps and add safety measures, while Porcari called for continued collaboration within the industry to prevent future incidents.