Digitized material shipment process improves MRAS aerostructures operations

Complex aerostructures producer ST Engineering MRAS (MRAS, Baltimore, Md., U.S.) is implementing Plataine’s (Waltham, Mass., U.S.) Supplier Connectivity Manager solution to digitize its shipment process, marking a milestone in its journey toward full digitization. The AI-powered cloud solution reduces MRAS’ shipment receiving process from hours to minutes, enhancing operational efficiency, improving quality and reducing error-driven scrap rates.

Once fully implemented, this process will help boost MRAS’ operational efficiency and enhance supply chain collaboration by streamlining operations across its suppliers, providing a holistic view of composite material genealogy throughout its entire life cycle, from raw materials to finished parts.

Previously, the shipment process at MRAS was more manual and labor-intensive, involving reviews of hundreds of quality files and Certificates of Compliance (CoCs) detailing each material lot’s quality information. MRAS hence sought to further digitize its production, automate the shipment process from suppliers, digitize CoC documents and reduce receiving inspection time.

It chose Plataine to create a digital process, enabling a smooth and streamlined shipping operation from the material supplier to MRAS. As part of this digital workflow, all shipment information is digitally and securely uploaded to Plataine’s cloud on the suppliers’ side, ensuring a seamless and transparent process. A Digital Passport is created for each material lot, providing a comprehensive record of its production and quality attributes.

Prior to shipping, the materials are approved and verified swiftly and accurately, before being loaded onto the truck, where MRAS can track the shipment status and content in real time. This digital process eliminates potential errors and simplifies the workflow, reducing the exposure time of time-sensitive materials. Additionally, all data will be automatically updated into MRAS’ ERP system, closing the loop and ensuring that all records are accurately archived in the Digital Passport.

“With this step in our journey towards a complete Digital Passport, we’re looking forward to obtaining greater clarity of our material parts’ genealogy,” Mitchell Smith, VP of operations, ST Engineering MRAS, says. “By leveraging Plataine’s solution to help us automate shipping and receiving processes, we aim to achieve greater operational efficiency and higher first-time-right quality.”