Lufthansa successfully uses RFID tags

Lufthansa Technik, a global provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, has been successfully using RFID technology in tracking aircraft components for the past two years. Lufthansa Technik Logistik (LTL), the logistics service provider of LHT, was one of the first companies to use RFID technology in aviation.

Since 2008, LTL has been attaching RFID tags to documents accompanying components as they are removed, serviced or repaired, and reinstalled. The use of RFID technology has significantly expedited the repair-cycle process for components by reducing or eliminating the need for manual data entry. With the help of RFID tracking, LTL is also avoiding delivery errors, and automatically verifying the authenticity of parts.

LTL uses UPM Raflatac's RFID tags which meet the strict requirements and standards set by the aviation industry.

"Using RFID means that Lufthansa Technik no longer depends on ‘line of sight’ to obtain information about the identity of a part. Parts can remain packed in their transportation containers and are automatically identified at diverse gates in the supply chain", says Carsten Sowa, RFID Program Manager at Lufthansa Technik. "This provides a greater supply chain visibility in repair processes so that production planning systems get more detailed information about where a part is, how long the transportation has taken, and when the next process steps with that part can be started. This will provide additional means for prioritising the overall workflow."

"RFID technology can offer a quantum leap to previous work methods and processes", says Mikko Nikkanen, Business Development Director, UPM Raflatac, RFID. "Maintenance in the aviation industry is hectic and every minute counts. With the deployment of RFID, maintenance and service functions can gain in increased accuracy, speed and traceability, and also in cost-efficiency. Lufthansa's solution is a great example of the new and innovative RFID approach to solve well known challenges."