Aviation MRO Service Prevents Foreign Object Damage With RFID Tool Management

An international aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider is successfully avoiding foreign object damage caused by tools because of its new RFID-enabled tool tracking system. A leading aviation MRO services provider with facilities in Europe and the U.S. has implemented an RFID tool tracking system from Xerafy and NG Way for foreign object damage (FOD) prevention.
Unattended tools are a leading source of foreign object damage, which costs the aerospace industry an estimated $4 billion annually, Boeing has reported the cost to repair a single engine that is damaged as a result of a foreign object can easily exceed $1 billion, FOD can also cause injuries and damage to airport facilities and support equipment.
An international aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider is successfully avoiding foreign object damage caused by tools because of its new RFID-enabled tool tracking system. The system uses XS Series Dot-On and Dash-On read-on-metal UHG RFID tags from Xerafy embedded into tools, plus handheld RFID readers and NG Way’s ToolCheck software to record which tools are assigned to technicians, track tool locations and to verify that no tools are left behind when maintenance activity is completed.
The company wishes to remain anonymous because it considers its processes to be a strong competitive advantage. The company has received Part-145 Maintenance Organisation Approval certification from the European Aviation Space Agency (EASA). Companies must develop and document quality processes and submit a Maintenance Organization Exposition (MOE) to earn EASA Part-145 status.