Maintenance Software Applications: Selecting the right solution for your needs
The last time AMT did a software article was about two years ago. Back then, there were quite a few programs out there for maintenance applications. Now, there are even more, and software companies are expanding their products at a rapid pace. We will try to sort through some of the products out there and offer some tips when it comes to choosing the product that best fits your needs.
Before we look at the individual software products, lets discuss some of the things to consider when looking for maintenance software.
Maintenance tracking
Many shops may feel that maintenance tracking is the most important issue when looking at a software product. From a mechanic's point of view, that is probably right. We want a product that will allow us to track our aircraft more efficiently. But most products offer more than just maintenance tracking. You need to know what your organization's needs are and get the product that best fits those needs.
Electronic signatures
The ability to have electronic signatures on the work items can be a big desire for a maintenance operation. But you need to check with your local FSDO before you implement an electronic signature system. They will probably have certain requirements such as password protection and traceability to help eliminate the possibility of fraudulent entries.
Wireless applications
One possibility with new software applications is their ability to be used in a wireless environment. There are a wide variety of wireless possibilities from rugged laptops to smaller PDA units. If you are considering a wireless application, make sure the product fits your needs. You also need to carefully consider the environment the units will be used in. Will they be used in the hangar or will they be used on the flight line in adverse environmental conditions? If they are to be used on the line, be sure the hardware you are looking at will stand up to that rugged environment.
Best fit
In the end, you need to find the software product that best fits your needs. Don't get lured by all the talk from the salesperson about all the capabilities that his or her product offers. If you only need one or two of those items, it could be a waste of your time and money. Also consider the complexity of the product and the support needed. Gerald Kosbab, president and COO of ATP, offers some advice on this subject. "Before you look at software products, look at your business process," Kosbab says. "Unless you are looking to change your processes, pick a product that best fits your processes. This will make the transition much easier." If a change in processes is desired, pick the product that allows you to go in the direction you want to go.
Training
One issue you should consider is what type of training is provided with the software product. Is on-site training needed? If the product is complex, it may require a great amount of training. Generally, the more time you invest in training your personnel how to use the product, the easier the transition will be. Keep in mind that there will be a learning curve when first implementing any program. The sooner your employees are trained on the system and begin to apply it to their jobs, the sooner you will see the payback on your investment.
Support
Another thing to consider is the support needed for the software product. Will you need people in your company to support the software and hardware associated with the product? Is this something you already have in place? Don't overestimate your company's ability to implement the product. Some of the products on the market are complex and require some significant support.
Legacy systems
Many shops already have some sort of legacy maintenance software system in place. When you are looking at a new product, you need to consider how it will work with your legacy system. Will the new product be able to pull information that is in your existing product? Or will all of the information need to be migrated to the new system. If this is the case, then what type of time investment are you looking at? Although your company may have made a big investment in a software solution a few years ago, you need to consider the need to continue supporting this legacy system with the advantages of going to a new solution. There comes a time when it is not worth it to continue to support old applications. You need to determine when that point comes and make the leap to the newer technology.
Ask lots of questions
In the end, you are ready to begin the search for a maintenance software application. You have done your homework and studied the work processes in your organization. You have an idea of what you need in a product to help you achieve your goals, whether they be productivity gains, cost savings, or others. Now it is time to talk to the companies. Listen to what they have to say. Learn about how their product will fit with your needs. Most of all, ask a lot of questions. Make sure you understand what you are getting. Following this article, we have listed some of the software products available out there along with a brief description of their capabilities. This can serve as a starting point for you in your search for your new software application. AMT
Take the software for a test drive
A good place to view software products is at a trade show. Most of the software companies attend industry trade shows and offer product demonstrations there. This allows you a unique opportunity to try multiple software products in a short amount of time.
Another way to learn more about some of the products out there is through IA seminars. Some of the aviation software companies have developed IA training presentations. This is a good way to learn about the products or to pick up tips on how to more effectively use the products if you are already a user.
Software Company Listing
Aircraft Technical Publishers (ATP) offers several products for maintenance professionals. Navigator V is a software platform that gives you control of your data. You can view publications, search options, and search results on the same screen. You also have the ability to build compliance records for any type of component. Export profile and compliance printouts to PDF, RTF, Word and Excel. Internet updates available.
ATP's Maintenance Director allows you to plan maintenance for any size fleet. Track aircraft, engine, and component data on your PC, and maintain logbook records.
www.atp.com
AV-Base Systems Inc. offers four versions of WinAir, a maintenance and inventory control system - from WinAir Lite that is aimed at operators, flying clubs, and maintenance facilities tracking a few aircraft to WinAir Enterprise, their flagship product that is aimed at organizations requiring more complex functions and features.
www.av-basesystems.com
Avantext offers several CD products including an AD Regulatory Library and Techpubs Maintenance libraries available for seven different aircraft manufacturers.
www.avantext.com
Avexus offers a web-based modular software system with support for asset management and operations, MRO, management and production, and enterprise management. Can be used with mobile devices.
www.avexus.com
AvTrak Inc. offers GlobalNet - a web-based information management system. Aircraft status is quickly viewed with alerts to any upcoming maintenance requirements. Helps you keep up with new and changing requirements such as service bulletins and ADs.
www.avtrak.com
CAMP Systems offers an online maintenance management software to track and predict maintenance requirements. Inventory control and flight scheduling products are also available.
www.campsys.com
Component Control offers Quantum Control. This software product automates quoting, ordering, and invoicing processes and generates industry-specific forms and reports. Optional modules are available including aircraft maintenance, accounting, repair manual tracking, and warranty modules.
www.componentcontrol.com
MxManager from Conklin & de Decker allows users to track, organize, and control maintenance activities and expenses including work orders, purchase orders, and inventory functions. Other products available include Aircraft Cost Evaluator, Aircraft Performance Comparator, and Live Cycle Cost.
www.mxmgr.com
A software solution designed for aviation service providers, CORRIDOR from Continuum Applied Technology, consists of interconnected modules including work order, inventory, rotables, accounting, line, compliance, and more.
www.corridor.aero
Data Systems & Solutions offers several products for the aviation marketplace including CoreAlert (health monitoring services), CoreFleet (aircraft reliability analysis and maintenance management), CoreFuture (planning and forecasting services), CoreRecord (technical records services), CoreWing (electronic technical logbook), and CoreWorkshop (electronic task card management).
www.ds-s.com
DatcoMedia offers EBis maintenance software. From work orders to point-of-sale invoices to scheduling and electronic time clocks, EBis offers an intuitive user interface that is easy to navigate and work from.
www.datcomedia.com
Horizon Business Concepts Inc. offers TotalFBO, a modular software solution for a wide variety of uses from flight schools and repair stations to charter operators and FBOs. Some features include accounting, invoicing, reports, aircraft maintenance projections, and weight and balance tracking.
www.hbcinc.com
IHS offers AV-DATA, a source for worldwide aviation regulations, safety, and advisory information. Full text searching and cross-reference ability.
www.ihs.com
Logbook Organizer offers a web-based aircraft maintenance tracking system/logbooks for fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft, engine, propeller, component, and appliances. System tracks inspections, ADs, SBs, modifications, alerts, personnel, and work orders.
www.lboinc.com
CompuTrak offers aviation maintenance tracking software. It can track requirements and components by hours, calendar, and/or cycles. Areas included are inventory control, purchasing, and work orders. It reports projected hours, calendar and/or cycles, work order discrepancy worksheets, cost analysis, and more.
www.computrak.com
MicroLAN is a computer consulting firm that specializes in computer systems for the charter airline industry. Software systems are totally extensible, so they can grow as your business grows.
www.microlan-tech.com
Mxi Technologies offers Maintenix, a maintenance and engineering system designed to manage aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul. Modules include line maintenance, heavy maintenance, shop maintenance, materials management, and fleet management.
www.mxi.com
Pentagon 2000SQL is a modular, scalable software system developed to support every aspect of the commercial aerospace, military parts, and high technology supply chain with additional fully integrated support for repair and overhaul, depot, heavy aircraft maintenance, and air fleet operations.
www.pentagon2000.com
Perceptive Solutions offers Handheld NRC - a handheld non-routine software solution allowing maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities the ability to extend the flow of information to the hangar floor.
www.perceptive-inc.com
Quick Aviation Software offers a fully integrated accounting software system for repair stations, FBOs and maintenance facilities. Data is fully linkable with Excel and other Microsoft products. Complete integration of functions from work orders and billings to inventory control, quotes, and invoicing.
www.quickaviation.com
Relevant Business Systems offers a modularly designed scalable software solution to allow companies the opportunity to better estimate, measure, control, and report by department. Modules include manufacturing (project control and shop floor control) and materials (material requirements planning, lot/serial control, inventory control).
www.relevant.com
Russell Adams provides software solutions for MROs, airline engineering, inventory management and defense. Core modules for these systems include technical records, job control, inventory management, maintenance planning, reliability reporting and financial control.
www.russelladams.com
Sinex Aviation Technologies provides software and consulting services to the air transport industry. The company's FleetCycle product offers several solutions including production manager, maintenance program manager, line manager, training manager, reliability manager, and planning manager.
www.sinex.com
Tdata Inc. has several software solutions for maintenance professionals. Its IApproach is a regulatory software product that is a source for ADs, service bulletins and other regulatory information for small aircraft, helicopters, and corporate jets. Their MTrax maintenance tracking software tracks ADs, service information, inspections, life-limited components, overhauls, and publications. Track by hours, cycles, RIN, and/or date.
www.tdatacorp.com
Transportation Systems Consulting's Aviation Management Information System (AMIS) is an integrated computer system for managing the technical operations activities of an airline or fleet operator. Modules include aircraft maintenance status and performance, aircraft maintenance planning and control, rotable and repairable management, material and inventory management, work orders, cost control, and more.
www.tsc-corp.com
TRAX Corporation's TRAX Maintenance is a software solution for modern aviation companies. Some of the product's modules include engineering, inventory management, purchasing, technical records, production, planning, and quality assurance.
www.trax.aero
VISaer Inc. offers a web-based MRO software solution. It is an integrated system that brings together the planning, technical, operational, and commercial aspects related to M&E and MRO businesses.
www.visaer.com
Wolfgang Leitner EDV-Beratungs GmbH offers LTB 400, a maintenance management system. Some of the features in this modular software package include maintenance planning, aircraft, and component maintenance tracking, job cards with barcode system, and labor time tracking.
www.edv-leitner.de
Xelus offers a web-based solution to allow more efficient forecasting, enabling planners to factor reverse logistics and workforce management into service planning and execution. Allows you to keep track of part life limits, compatibility rules, regulatory compliance issues, and airworthiness directives.
www.xelus.com