Note: This list was last updated in 2014 and due to contractual constraints we have not been able to list more recent clients. That said, our current list includes about two dozen Tier 1 airlines using our RFID solutions, including most of the major airlines in the US, Europe, the Middle East and now South America. A decade ago, use of our RFID solutions (RFIDAeroCheck, RFIDAeroTrack) were interesting, helpful and money-saving for airline maintenance departments. As airlines learned how integrate both the tool and the data into their operations the same solution became a strategic advantage and airlines wanted to keep it under wraps a bit more – so we’re now a bit limited in advertising!
In addition, the OEM’s use of our RFIDAeroTag solution has also continued to expand to about 24 installations in the US, Europe, Middle East, Mexico and Asia and growing every month.
A list of of our current and past clients. See how TechnologySolutions has provided a broad range of solutions for the following companies.
An innovative and safety-conscious airline needing to reduce material costs and wastage, Delta has implemented the RFIDAeroCheck application to lower their maintenance costs. This system also provides maintenance and purchase planning information where almost none existed before. They now know exactly how many of which type of life-limited, emergency equipment is going to expire in any given month for a decade ahead.
This helps them rationalize both maintenance tasks and purchase activities to get the best prices. They also get the maximum life out of every piece of RFID-tagged equipment. This implementation was so successful that Delta made RFID implementation a corporate priority in 2015. They have since implemented a number of additional RFID solutions and are considered the aviation RFID ‘Poster Child’ for how to take advantage of this technology.
In 2019, United Airlines is deeply embedded in the RFID implementation process our suite of RFID applications to meet their needs into the future, both on-aircraft (RFIDAeroCheck) and on-ground (RFIDAeroTrack) for tool tracking in all their tool rooms system-wide.
In the late ’80s/early 90’s (remember those days of pre-Internet and pre-WiFi?), the Principal architected and implemented an estimated $3M worth of bar code hardware supporting $25M worth of new systems over a 5 year period, including systems for inventory control, warehouse management, parts traceability, work-in-progress tracking, automatic part re-ordering, vendor managed inventory, as well as shipping, receiving, binning and other processes related to inventory management. The Principal also designed and installed a state-of-the-art worldwide, distributed data, document management system to control and quickly deliver the current Illustrated Parts Catalogues (IPC) and repair manuals to aircraft mechanics that was finally retired after 25 years in service.
This technology was implemented in a 12,000 person, highly-unionized manufacturing facility involving many different production and back shop processes including engine, component and airframe overhaul operations using bar code, batch portable- and WiFi-connected portable computer solutions which solved the problem of getting bad data into their system, of easily finding data errors, and for keeping databases in synch with the real world.
In 2020, American Airlines started their RFID implementation with our on-aircraft RFIDAeroCheck process to check presence and life limits for their emergency equipment, and barely into that implementation they also started RFIDAeroTrack for tool tracking in all their major tool rooms. American is very enthusiastic about all the saving potential they see with our Transparent Data Collection(R) RFID solutions.
SAFRAN/Air Cruisers has implemented the low-memory RFIDAeroTag RFID application that meets the Spec2000 requirements for low memory tags, including the new EPC Aerospace & Defense Header information. A high memory RFID application to to meet Airbus RFID requirements has been purchased, as well. The RFIDAeroTag application guarantees unique Serial Numbers are assigned to each item and maintains a full traceability database of every item that has been RFID-tagged. Functionality also allows replacement tags to be encoded in case of damage or during future overhaul events. The application delivers tags in either single or batch mode, with or without human readable/barcoded data printed on the face of the tag, plus it can be linked to existing manufacturing/ERP systems for transparent ease-of-use. Items tagged include life vests (pax, crew, infant, demo), slides and rafts, the latter in 2019 including “Embedded Life Parts” capability, a new feature in the Spec2000 standard.
MedAire, a division of the SOS International company, is the latest company that has implemented the low-memory RFIDAeroTag application. Airline customers had encouraged MedAire to start delivering both new and refurbished medical kits with RFID tags on them and MedAire stepped up to the challenge and was quick to respond. They are fully functional as of January 2014.
Due to earlier accomplishments in the aerospace industry, TechnologySolutions was one of the UID architects of the DoD’s Unique ID Part Marking Policy, establishing for the first time a solid foundation that the military can use for all parts-related information systems. The Principal worked as a Systems Architecture Consultant for the DoD’s Future Business Systems over a 20-month period, and currently provides ongoing contributions to UID policy definition and implementation.
The Principal was the consultant on Boeing 787 RFID Part Marking that extends the EPC Global Gen 2 standard to high capacity memory RFID tags (64kb to 64 kB). This leading-edge implementation places point-of-use data (human understandable) directly in the RFID data plate mounted on the part. The basic architecture for this new implementation was developed and written up by the Principal, after which Boeing offered a lengthy contract to drive this concept toward implementation including being a keynote speaker at all the Global Aviation RFID Forums in a dozen locations around the world. This contract including the development of the technology, the technology suppliers, the data structure, a portable RFID application, and necessary industry standards.
As an early adopter of the DoD’s UID Policy, Honeywell’s Engine & Systems Division had significant challenges in engineering their systems and parts to accomplish all the Direct Part Marking (DPM) required by their engine components. Principal consulted with systems side of their business and worked with a top-rated DPM partner to handle the DPM equipment needed.
This UID Needs Assessment study was commissioned by Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems to address the impact of the Department of Defense UID Policy on Northrop Grumman Air Combat System’s part marking requirements, business processes and Information Technology systems. Recommendations were made for the best part marking, reading and verification systems that will integrate into the Northrop Grumman manufacturing and receiving/shipping areas. Analysis was also made on the current Northrop Grumman IT systems and options available to integrate the parts marking and verification systems to legacy and new automated identification systems (AIS).
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems had some near term needs on new DoD contracts to produce the required UID bar codes and data in their St. Louis facilities. TechnologySolutions conducted a 3-day onsite survey of their existing business processes and technology capabilities, and provided a 100 page report suggesting Best Commercial Practices, near, mid, and long term implementation processes that fit within Boeing’s overall systems architecture. Boeing adopted many of these recommendations and were delivering UID-marked parts within 6 months.
Boeing Helicopter was the very first implementer of the DoD’s UID policy for part marking, establishing data, systems, and process control to ensure uniqueness of the Serial Numbers on Parts. Issues addressed included the engineering processes for drawing changes, supplier communication and contracts, and process improvements.
Principal consulted on the Spec 2000 industry standards, part marking, improving processes in the airplane production facility, and eBusiness collaboration with their Suppliers.
Principal provided the analysis and much of a 100-page report developing a Concept of Operations (CONOPS) related to UID Implementation at DoD Depots, the integration of UID and other DoD policies like Serial Number Tracking (SNT), Serial Item Management (SIM), Total Asset Visibility (TAV), and IT policies like usage of XML. Provided other reports on the Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) operations of US railroads, and also costs associated with No-Fault-Found (NFF) components in the airline business for comparison with the military NFF situation.
Principal acted as an external industry consultant providing expertise on airline and defense industry standards related to parts marking, part traceability and component and system reliability. Principal also provided validation and correction of the Teradata Data Model for Transportation Systems.