Civil aircraft parts inventory management specialist Satair confidently predicts it will be the market leader by 2017. According to group CEO Mikkel Bardram, the key to achieving this goal is providing a fully integrated approach to aftermarket service for both operators and the suppliers it represents.

“We are integrated into the customer’s operation as much as possible, taking care of all aspects of logistics and warehousing for them,” he explained. “This involves setting up inventory at the customer’s site and replenishing that inventory as needed so that they don’t even have to think about it.”

Significantly, Satair owns the warehoused inventory until it is actually used by the customer. The next step for the Denmark-based group will be to ensure that there is a completely seamless IT link with operators to that ensure that there is complete transparency over spares requirements and how they are being met. “We’re not completely seamless yet, but that is where we need to go and it’s a big challenge,” Bardram said.

Through its Integrated Purchasing Programme (IPP), Satair (Hall 4 Stand F192) handles all aspects of distribution for suppliers. This year it is aiming to boost the number of U.S. suppliers it represents and in the process it expects to include more content for Boeing aircraft. Despite the fact that Airbus is a leading shareholder in Satair, about a quarter of its business already involves Boeing parts.

The other side of IPP, according to Bardram, is that operators who are having trouble dealing with suppliers–perhaps because they only buy spares a couple of times per year–can depend on Satair to improve the availability of stock. This is especially helpful in the case of smaller suppliers.