ATI links repair operations into the extended supply chain

Sermatech Repair Services (SRS), part of Airfoil Technologies International (ATI), says it can work more efficiently with its customers since going live in the UK on enterprise software firm QAD’s Desktop application. The suite links them in real time into a supply chain via the web. It’s the first phase of ATI’s implementation, which will be followed by roll out to Singapore and then three US locations. ATI provides repair technologies and services for cold section airfoils of commercial flight turbines, all founded on traceability of components, and relying on sophisticated inter-company collaboration for successful operation. The new software, it says, streamlines internal processes via a single user interface, reducing operating costs and improving productivity. “Nothing is built from scratch, therefore the components remain the same coming in and going out of the workshop, which means that traceability is vital.” says Steve Nelson, project manager at SRS. ATI also needed a routing configuration system to allow repairs to take place against components received. And QAD provided all of this. The software “allows us to link our customers into our supply chain, which makes us much more able to focus on customer needs and serve them better,” says Nelson.