Work order visibility describes how each step of the repair or maintenance process can be tracked, from the quote through closure. This capability is critical for aviation operators to manage costs, comply with regulations, and avoid delays in aviation maintenance work order management.
Most of the time, information is spread across multiple systems, so it takes time to gather all relevant information to create a work order. By centralizing all information in one location, aviation ERP software ensures that every step of the work order is recorded sequentially and stays current. This structure ensures that work order visibility in aviation is continuous rather than reconstructed later.
How Quoting Data Sets the Direction of the Work Order
The quotation is the beginning of the work order lifecycle. Ineffective visibility at this stage leads to issues in later phases of the work order lifecycle, creating correction challenges that can be time-consuming and costly.
Aviation enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems provide better visibility into quoting by allowing for the following:
- Capturing the quoted hours of labor and material estimates associated with jobs as structured fields.
- Linking quotes directly with customer records and with every part number in the system.
- Documenting the user actions associated with approving quotes using timestamps and tracking approval status.
On approval of a quote, the aviation ERP software converts the quote into an active work order without the need to re-enter the data. This allows teams using aviation work order management systems to maintain the initial data included with the quote, enabling them to evaluate the variances between the quoted and actual values at a later time.
Maintaining Clarity as Work Moves to the Shop Floor
Manual logs or delayed updates conceal bottlenecks in the process until after it is too late to react, particularly with aviation MRO software environments.
ERP systems increase work order workflow visibility by:
- Logging labor against tasks associated with work steps.
- Logging the live status of each operation within an existing work order.
- Automatically recording all start and completion times.
Using aviation operations management software, a supervisor can access up-to-date information on each technician’s logged actions against the work order. This allows supervisors to monitor real-time progress on each technician’s logged activity, enabling a more controlled aviation maintenance workflow rather than the reactive fixes required by unplanned disruptions or delays.
Connecting Parts and Compliance Without Extra Handling
Work order visibility fails when the aviation ERP systems do not allow for a seamless transition from work order to parts and compliance documentation. Intelligent ERP software resolves this by integrating inventory and regulatory documentation directly into the workflow.
An aviation ERP uses integrated controls to track parts and compliance within a single workflow. It records part numbers and quantities against each job in real time, automatically attaches certification and traceability documents, and enforces validation checks before a task can be completed.
With the controls in place, manual checks are no longer needed to ensure compliance with documentation. It is the primary function of an aviation maintenance management system to operate within the regulatory structure for maintenance and serviceability of commercial aircraft, while eliminating inefficiencies associated with manual documentation for both parts and compliance.
Turning Completed Work into Accurate Financial Records
The final stage of a work order exposes the cost of poor visibility. When there is a disconnect between labor and materials used in your work order, it can cause delays in your invoicing or disputes with your payable accounts.
With aviation ERP systems, your work order can be made more transparent to you in the following ways:
- By calculating the true cost of a work order based on actual recorded labor and parts usage.
- By connecting financial transactions to the work order directly.
- By time-stamping the final sign-off and closure of an order.
Since your finances are based on operational records, aviation-specific ERP systems remove any disconnects between what you performed in your order and what you charged for. This is one of the key strengths of a parts trading and MRO operation.
How Power Aero Suites Delivers Work Order Visibility
Power Aero Suites provides cloud-based aviation ERP software tailored for aviation parts traders and MROs to achieve full work order visibility. The platform connects all stages in one interface, with role-specific dashboards that display real-time updates on quotes, execution, and compliance.
Technicians use mobile barcode scanning for instant logging. Managers access live alerts and drill-down views without switching systems. This setup eliminates data silos common in legacy tools, ensuring accurate tracking from RFQ entry to invoice generation.
Final Completion and Analytics
At completion, the ERP brings together everything that has been captured (all the information) for sign-off and reporting. The manager typically looks at the total aggregated metrics from labor hours, material costs, etc., prior to closing out the order.
Once the order is closed, invoices can be generated automatically in the ERP and the financial records updated. Teams generate reports and conduct post-analysis to identify areas for improvement going forward.
Some key outputs include:
- Drill-down reports showing all cost overruns broken down by task type.
- Scorecards that show vendor performance.
- Summary reports that can be exported for customer service level agreements (SLAs).
This completes the cycle for each work order. The increased visibility allows you to operate at a higher level of efficiency.
Ready to see Power Aero Suites in action? Schedule your free demo today and discover how it streamlines operations for aviation parts traders and MROs. Contact us now.
