Category: News
In the complex and demanding environment of aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), organizations often rely on various software solutions—including generic ERP platforms, standalone planning tools, resource management applications, and stock control systems. While these systems might offer partial solutions, they often come with significant trade-offs in applicability, cost, and complexity. Generic ERPs may lack the specialized functionality needed for aviation-specific regulatory compliance, while dedicated planning or inventory systems often struggle to integrate effectively with other operations.
Choosing the right software solution is critical. The ideal platform isn’t just any ERP—it’s an ERP specifically designed, tested, and refined over years to meet the precise challenges faced by Part 145 aviation MRO providers. Such specialized software provides not just a centralized system but an integrated, purpose-built environment that supports seamless coordination across every department.
Understanding ERP in Aviation MRO
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software serves as the digital heartbeat of modern aviation MRO facilities. It integrates all critical maintenance functions onto a single, centralized platform, ensuring everyone—from planners and technicians to customer relations and logistics teams—operates with a unified, accurate view of operations.
Unlike generic solutions, ERP systems designed specifically for Part 145 aviation MROs cater to unique challenges such as heavy checks, component maintenance, line operations, and precise regulatory compliance.
The Real Impact of Modern ERP for MRO Operations
A robust, aviation-specific ERP transforms your operation, empowering teams in multiple critical areas:
- Maintenance Planning and Forecasting: Anticipate and manage upcoming maintenance requirements accurately.
- Task and Work Package Management: Seamlessly create, track, and complete tasks and work packages.
- Hangar and Production Scheduling: Real-time management of hangar space, resources, and technician availability.
- Material and Inventory Management: Know exactly what’s in stock, what’s ordered, and what’s needed, minimizing costly delays.
- Component and Shop Workflow Tracking: Streamlined component maintenance with full traceability from removal to reinstallation.
- Billing and Invoicing Accuracy: Precise billing and financial tracking, ensuring transparent and timely invoicing.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: Role-based, branded customer portals for real-time status updates, documentation access, and clear communication.
- Regulatory and Authorization Management: Automated tracking of technician certifications, authorizations, and compliance requirements.
The Hidden Costs of Sticking with Legacy Systems
Many MROs struggle to keep pace due to reliance on fragmented systems or spreadsheets. As complexity increases, these tools create more questions than answers:
- Who’s assigned to each task?
- Do we have the necessary parts in good condition?
- Where exactly is the work package progress?
- Can we provide customers real-time visibility into their aircraft’s status?
Without clear answers, operations slow down, trust erodes, and costs escalate.
Transform Your Operation with an ERP
Adopting an aviation-specific ERP offers immediate, tangible benefits:
- Planners gain clear visibility into technician availability, resource allocation, and scheduling conflicts.
- Production managers monitor job progress and resolve issues proactively, avoiding delays.
- Stores and logistics teams stay ahead with precise inventory management.
- Shop technicians confidently manage components through detailed, real-time workflows.
- Customer service teams deliver unparalleled transparency through easy-to-use portals.
- HR and QA teams efficiently track technician authorizations and qualifications, reducing manual oversight.
At Sensus Aero, each role in your MRO—from initial planning and task execution to customer handover—is supported by clear, actionable insights.
Recognizing the Signs: Is Your MRO Ready for ERP?
Consider adopting an ERP if your operation is experiencing:
- Heavy reliance on Excel and disconnected systems for maintenance planning.
- Delays from manual, paper-based work packages.
- Difficulty tracking inventory across multiple locations.
- Constant email or verbal follow-ups for task status updates.
- Inefficient management of component maintenance or customer interactions.
Why Sensus Aero Stands Out
Sensus Aero isn’t a generic ERP solution. It’s purpose-built for Part 145 aviation MRO providers, offering:
- Comprehensive end-to-end maintenance lifecycle management.
- Modular, intuitive mobile-first functionality.
- Real-time, role-specific dashboards tailored for precise operational visibility.
- Scalability to support growing independent or multi-location MRO businesses.
- Customizable branded portals, enhancing customer collaboration and transparency.
Take the Next Step Toward Digital Excellence
Ready to modernize your MRO operation with clarity, efficiency, and confidence?
- Explore Sensus Aero ERP Solutions
- Schedule a Consultation with Our Product Experts
- Discover More: [Role-Based Dashboards – The Future of Proactive MRO Management]
What Is MRO ERP Software—and Why Specialized MRO Companies Need It to Scale Efficiently
In the complex landscape of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations, companies often juggle multiple software systems—from general ERP solutions to standalone planning tools, resource management software, and legacy inventory systems. While these generic solutions might initially seem adequate, they typically fall short when handling the intricate, highly specialized requirements of MRO providers that manage complex maintenance processes.
The High Stakes of Choosing the Wrong ERP
Selecting an unsuitable ERP can be extremely costly, with studies indicating ERP implementation failures averaging 27% in cost overruns, and extreme cases exceeding 200%. For MRO providers, the stakes are particularly high due to the inherent complexity of their processes. A typical commercial aircraft heavy check, for instance, can involve managing over 10,000 individual tasks, hundreds of technicians, and thousands of components with precise regulatory compliance. An incorrect choice can lead to millions of dollars lost due to prolonged implementation, extended training timelines, inadequate support, and incompatibility with existing legacy ecosystems.
Legacy Systems: Hidden Costs and Risks
Relying on outdated systems introduces significant hidden costs:
- Operational Inefficiencies: Manual processes, fragmented data, and frequent errors disrupt workflow.
- Revenue Leakage: Disputes, billing inaccuracies, and unmatched financial figures create substantial financial drains.
- Security Vulnerabilities: Legacy software is vulnerable to cyber threats due to outdated protocols.
- Employee Dissatisfaction: Frustrations with inefficient systems can severely reduce productivity and morale.
Industry research suggests that legacy systems can cost companies an additional 15-20% annually due to operational inefficiencies alone.
The Need for MRO-Specific ERP Solutions
MRO providers require ERP solutions explicitly tailored to their unique operational needs, offering:
- Flexibility: Easily adaptable to accommodate diverse business processes and dynamic day-to-day operations unique to each MRO provider.
- Comprehensive Functionality: Full lifecycle management for complex maintenance activities, including strict regulatory compliance with standards such as FAA CFR Part 145, EASA Part 145, ISO 9001, and other relevant aviation quality and safety standards.
- Ease of Use: Intuitive interfaces for swift adoption by staff and minimal disruption to daily operations.
- Robust Implementation and Support: Extensive training provided by experts, streamlined implementation processes, and ongoing, responsive support services to address operational challenges promptly.
Adopting a purpose-built MRO ERP solution helps streamline operations, mitigate risks, and establish sustainable, scalable growth.
Understanding ERP in the MRO Context
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software forms the backbone of modern MRO facilities, integrating all critical maintenance functions onto a single, cohesive platform. This integration ensures planners, technicians, logistics teams, and customer service personnel have accurate, real-time visibility.
Unlike generic ERP systems, specialized MRO ERP platforms efficiently manage highly detailed processes, such as heavy maintenance checks involving thousands of tasks, line maintenance under tight timelines, and complex component shop workflows.
The Impact of Specialized MRO ERP
A specialized MRO ERP significantly enhances operations by:
- Improving Maintenance Planning: Accurate forecasting, resource allocation, and proactive task management.
- Streamlining Task Execution: Efficient tracking and management of comprehensive work packages.
- Optimizing Hangar Utilization: Real-time insights into hangar space and skill/manhour availability.
- Accurate Material Management: Precise inventory tracking to reduce costly delays.
- Detailed Component Tracking: Detailed tracking from initial removal through repair and reinstallation.
- Ensuring Accurate Invoicing: Eliminating disputes through transparent billing.
- Enhancing Customer Experience: Real-time status updates, communication and approvals, via customer portals.
- Maintaining Regulatory Compliance: Automated tracking of certifications and authorizations.
Recognizing When Your MRO Needs ERP
Signs indicating the need for a specialized ERP solution include:
- Over-reliance on Excel and disconnected systems.
- Delays due to manual documentation processes.
- Difficulty managing multi-location inventory.
- Persistent issues with billing disputes and inaccuracies.
- Revenue leakage from unidentified discrepancies and manual processes.
Why Choose Sensus Aero?
Sensus Aero is specifically designed for MRO providers handling complex, high-precision maintenance processes:
- Complete end-to-end maintenance lifecycle management.
- Flexible, modular architecture supporting unique business processes.
- Real-time dashboards customized for every operational role.
- Scalable to accommodate growth and expansion across multiple locations.
- Branded, secure portals for enhanced customer engagement and transparency.
Take the Next Step Toward Operational Excellence
In an era where most industries have embraced end-to-end digital workflows, aviation MROs are still navigating a paradox: “paperless” hangars that run on printed job cards, pen-and-paper CRS sign-offs, and scanned maintenance records.
While cloud platforms, mobile devices, and planning dashboards have made their way into MRO environments, paper continues to play a surprising — and costly — role in day-to-day maintenance execution. This disconnect not only limits operational efficiency but exposes MROs to regulatory risk, lost time, and avoidable rework.
The Persistence of Paper: A Known but Underestimated Issue
According to the AircraftIT MRO Survey 2023, 83% of MROs still rely on paper job cards at some stage of the maintenance process. Even organizations that have invested in ERP systems or digital interfaces still revert to printouts and manual signatures due to limited integration between systems, tools, and regulatory workflows.
The result?
- Delayed sign-offs and job card closures
- Disrupted CRS issuance due to missing or inconsistent documentation
- Rework caused by referencing outdated or mismatched versions
- Audit exposure when traceability is incomplete
In highly regulated Part-145 environments, these seemingly small issues accumulate into serious operational and reputational risks
The Compliance Reality: EASA and FAA Approve Digital Records
There is a persistent myth in the industry that regulatory agencies still “require” paper. In fact, both EASA and FAA explicitly accept digital records and electronic signatures, provided the system in use guarantees:
- Verified user identity and role-based permissions
- A secure, immutable audit trail
- Controlled access and certificate validation
Yet, many legacy systems — and even some general-purpose ERP platforms — lack the deep integration needed to support these standards across task cards, job cards, CRS, and component documentation.
Purpose-Built for Paperless MRO: The Sensus Aero Approach
At Sensus Aero, we believe that true paperless operations don’t start with dashboards — they start with digitally secure, operationally embedded signatures.
Our Paperless module includes native support for:
- Routine and non-routine job card closures
- Task card annotation and mobile sign-off
- EASA Form 1 and FAA 8130-3 documentation
- CRS issuance with digital seals
- Component repair documents and serviceable tag tracking
All signatures are:
- Role-authorized via user PIN and authentication
- Traceable with automatic audit logs
- Legally compliant using digital certificates and company seals
With real-time status updates, mobile execution tools, and cloud access, Sensus Aero replaces the bottlenecks of paper-based workflows with seamless, regulation-ready digital processes — from line maintenance to heavy checks.
What We’ve Learned from MRO Operations
In test simulations of typical narrow-body heavy checks, we’ve identified up to 20 hours of avoidable idle time caused by manual document handling — rework, untraceable sign-offs, and delays in job card closure.
It’s not just paperwork. It’s lost productivity and risk that scales with every aircraft.
The Path Forward: Paperless is Not a Trend, It’s a Transition
As MRO organizations face growing demands for faster turnaround, increased labor utilization, and demonstrable sustainability, paper-heavy workflows are no longer just inefficient — they’re unsustainable.
Going paperless isn’t just a checkbox for innovation. It’s a foundational shift toward:
- Tighter compliance
- Reduced rework
- Lower risk
- Higher operational resilience
At Sensus Aero, we’re proud to help MROs navigate this transformation — one digitally signed job card at a time.
By Egle Gureviciene, MRO Product Owner, Sensus Aero
In the aviation industry, sustainability is no longer a choice – it’s a necessity. Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organizations, often at the heart of aviation efficiency, are uniquely positioned to lead the charge toward environmental responsibility. With traditional paper-based workflows consuming significant resources and introducing inefficiencies, the shift to digital operations is critical—not only to reduce waste but also to streamline tasks and optimize overall performance.
At Sensus Aero, we believe sustainability begins with actionable improvements. Our cloud-based MRO management system integrates planning, execution, control, billing, and sales into a unified platform, providing a complete solution for modern MRO operations. By digitalizing work packages, job cards, dashboards, and workflows, we empower MROs to achieve faster turnarounds, improve resource utilization, and align with industry sustainability goals.
Paperless Operations: A Practical Step Toward Sustainability
Traditional MRO workflows heavily rely on paper for task assignments, maintenance records, and documentation, often leading to delays, redundancy, and waste—not to mention the wear and tear paper can endure in maintenance environments.
Sensus Aero’s paperless-ready operations address these challenges by replacing paper-based workflows with robust digital solutions:
- Job Cards and Task Cards: Accessible directly from mobile devices, these digital tools ensure real-time updates, reduce delays, and eliminate lost or damaged documentation.
- Dashboards and Reports: Provide supervisors and technicians with instant visibility into task progress and performance metrics, enabling data-driven decision-making.
- Integrated Workflow Management: A centralized digital environment streamlines task scheduling, updates, and execution.
- Customer Portal: Facilitates real-time communication, including non-routine maintenance (NRC) requests, task approvals, and seamless collaboration with clients.
By digitizing these critical processes, MROs can eliminate paper waste while ensuring operational precision and responsiveness.
The Cloud Advantage: A Unified MRO Ecosystem
The Sensus Aero MRO solution is more than a tool – it’s a cloud-based ecosystem designed to optimize every aspect of MRO operations. By consolidating planning, execution, and billing into a single platform, it eliminates the inefficiencies of fragmented systems, creating a seamless workflow from start to finish.
Key features include:
- End-to-End Integration: From scheduling tasks to billing completed work, every process is interconnected within one platform, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal delays.
- Mobile Mechanic App: Native to iOS and Android, this app allows technicians to execute tasks, digitally sign off work, and issue Certificates of Release to Service (CRS) on the go.
- Automated Approvals: Streamlines permissions, authorizations, and data updates, reducing manual intervention and minimizing errors.
- Sustainable Digital Transformation: By leveraging cloud storage, MROs reduce reliance on physical infrastructure, supporting sustainability goals and operational efficiency.
The Sustainability Benefits of Digital Transformation
By transitioning to paperless, cloud-based workflows, MROs can realize measurable benefits that go beyond environmental impact:
- Faster Turnarounds: Digital workflows eliminate administrative bottlenecks, enabling technicians to focus on core maintenance activities.
- Enhanced Labor and Material Utilization: Real-time access to data ensures optimal resource allocation, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
- Reduced Paper Usage: Transitioning away from paper-based systems directly contributes to sustainability initiatives, cutting unnecessary waste.
- Improved Productivity: Mobile-first solutions streamline approvals and communications, ensuring tasks are completed without unnecessary delays.
A Call to Action for MROs
As sustainability becomes a central focus in the aviation industry, MROs have a pivotal role in shaping a greener future. By adopting paperless operations and embracing cloud-based solutions, MROs can reduce waste, enhance efficiency, and position themselves as leaders in environmental responsibility.
At Sensus Aero, we are proud to equip MROs with tools that combine innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence. Whether it’s optimizing workflows, reducing environmental impact, or enabling faster turnarounds, our cloud-based solution provides a foundation for the future of aviation maintenance.
If your organization is ready to transform MRO operations and embrace the next generation of sustainability, we’re here to partner with you.
Egle Gureviciene
MRO Product Owner, Sensus Aero
In the fast-paced and high-stakes world of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), delays caused by outdated or incomplete information can quickly escalate into costly inefficiencies, missed deadlines, and operational disruptions. Traditional dashboards, often focused on historical data, provide a retrospective view rather than enabling proactive decision-making. This reactive approach leaves decision-makers struggling to address real-time challenges effectively. The future of MRO operations demands role-based dashboards powered by live, actionable data, giving managers the tools they need to stay ahead of issues, optimize resources, and drive operational excellence.
From workshop managers tracking job card statuses to customers monitoring their assets in real time, dashboards tailored to specific roles and responsibilities are transforming the way MROs operate, communicate, and deliver value.
Why Live Dashboards Are Critical
The quality of MRO outcomes is directly tied to the quality of the data feeding into the process. Outdated or incomplete information can lead to delayed decisions, resource mismanagement, and ultimately, compromised project outcomes. Live dashboards bridge this gap by providing real-time visibility into critical operations, enabling proactive decision-making and improved control.
Key benefits of live dashboards include:
- Instant Insights: Real-time updates on work order statuses, resource allocation, and project milestones ensure that managers can address issues as they arise, rather than reacting after delays have already occurred.
- Better Communication: Live dashboards reduce silos by offering a shared, transparent view of operations across teams, improving collaboration and accountability.
- Efficiency in Decision-Making: With live data at their fingertips, MRO professionals can make informed decisions faster, reducing downtime and improving overall turnaround times.
The Power of Role-Based Dashboards
A role-based dashboard customizes the data presented based on the user’s specific responsibilities and needs. This targeted approach ensures that every stakeholder—whether a component workshop manager, quality control lead, or financial supervisor—has access to the most relevant and actionable information.
For Component Workshop Managers
- Work Order Status: Tracks open, in-progress, and completed work orders in real time, helping managers prioritize tasks and allocate resources efficiently.
- Material Stock Levels: Displays the availability of critical parts and tools, reducing delays caused by stockouts or uncalibrated equipment.
- Turnaround Times (TAT): Provides live tracking of TAT for components, enabling better planning and performance optimization.
For Quality Control Teams
- Defect Tracking: Live data on rejected components, repeat repairs, and ongoing quality control issues ensures that corrective actions are taken promptly.
- Compliance Monitoring: Dashboards can highlight tasks requiring specific certifications, ensuring that all processes meet regulatory standards.
For Financial Supervisors
- Cost and Revenue Monitoring: Summarizes project profitability, including labor and material costs, to ensure financial health.
- Billing and Cash Cycles: Tracks invoicing progress and cash flow, reducing delays in revenue recognition.
Customer Portals: A Game-Changer for Transparency
MROs serve a wide range of customers, from airlines to individual aircraft owners, and keeping them informed is critical to building trust and ensuring satisfaction. A comprehensive customer portal linked to live dashboards provides transparency and accessibility like never before.
Key features of a customer portal include:
- Active Job Card Monitoring: Customers can track the progress of their job cards, including in-progress repairs, milestones, and completion timelines.
- Non-Routine Task Management: Instant updates on non-routine work, approvals, and added costs ensure clarity and reduce surprises.
- Asset Visibility: Whether it’s a single component in repair or an entire aircraft undergoing maintenance, customers can view live updates, including repair statuses and estimated delivery times.
- Streamlined Communication: Centralized communication channels within the portal enable seamless interaction between customers and the MRO team, ensuring quicker approvals and resolving queries in real time.
Data Control: The Key to Quality Outcomes
The importance of being in control of your data cannot be overstated. In MRO operations, the right inputs—delivered at the right time—are critical to ensuring quality outputs. Role-based dashboards and customer portals enable MROs to harness the full potential of their data by:
- Minimizing Errors: Live, accurate data reduces the risk of mistakes caused by outdated or incomplete information.
- Enhancing Productivity: Teams can focus on high-value tasks rather than spending time searching for or verifying data.
- Improving Customer Experience: Real-time transparency builds trust and enhances satisfaction by keeping customers informed and engaged throughout the process.
The Future of MRO Dashboards
The move from historical dashboards to live, role-based solutions is a natural evolution for an industry as dynamic as MRO. As technology continues to advance, dashboards will play an even greater role in automating processes, predicting potential issues, and driving efficiency.
At Sensus Aero, we are committed to developing tools that empower MRO organizations to stay ahead of the curve. By combining real-time data insights with customizable dashboards and customer portals, we’re helping the industry transition to a more transparent, efficient, and proactive way of working.
The question is no longer whether live dashboards are necessary but how quickly MROs can adopt these tools to remain competitive. Are you ready to embrace the future of MRO management?
By Jevgenijus Petronis, Head of MRO Product, Sensus Aero
Effective planning remains one of the greatest challenges in MRO operations. The industry still relies heavily on manual processes and legacy workflows, often depending on years of accumulated expertise to navigate complex tasks. This approach frequently results in inefficiencies, extended aircraft downtime, and operational bottlenecks, making the need for streamlined and innovative solutions more urgent than ever.
At Sensus Aero, we are committed to transforming MRO operations by developing and testing next-generation management capabilities. Unlike general-purpose platforms, our software is specifically designed for MRO management and maintenance, backed by years of focused research and development. By streamlining workflows, improving resource utilization, and delivering integrated solutions, we aim to tackle the challenges faced by modern MRO organizations and support both short-term and long-term planning.
The Core Challenges of MRO Planning
1. Inventory and Supply Chain Volatility
Managing inventory and ensuring the availability of critical parts and tools remains a pressing issue in MRO operations. Supply chain disruptions, uncalibrated tools, and delays in part availability can lead to extended aircraft downtime and increased costs.
Striking the right balance between overstocking parts, which ties up valuable resources, and understocking, which risks operational delays, is critical. Proper forecasting, automating pre-orders, integrated inventory systems, and enhanced supply chain visibility are essential to mitigate these risks effectively.
2. Workforce Planning, Skill & Qualification Allocation
Aligning workforce capabilities with operational demands is a complex task. Technicians often possess varying certifications and skill levels, such as A-, B-, or C-level qualifications, which must be matched to specific job requirements while meeting compliance standards.
Effective planning must address not only current workforce capabilities but also workload fluctuations and unforeseen absences. Ensuring the right personnel are scheduled efficiently reduces bottlenecks, enhances reliability, and maximizes labor utilization.
3. Managing Repairs and Non-Routine Maintenance
Non-routine maintenance tasks can significantly disrupt pre-planned workflows. Whether it’s an unexpected system malfunction or an issue discovered during routine inspections, these events require dynamic planning tools capable of reallocating resources and adjusting schedules in real-time to minimize downtime.
Systems that adapt quickly to changing circumstances are essential to maintaining operational stability and readiness.
Financial Efficiency and Cash Cycles
Delayed invoicing, fragmented billing processes, and misaligned cash cycles often create financial bottlenecks in MRO operations. Efficient cash flow management is essential not only for maintaining financial health but also for ensuring timely payments in an industry where delays can cascade across multiple areas of operations.
Profitability margins in MRO projects are often strained by unforeseen bottlenecks, such as NRC orders, which can disrupt planned workflows and significantly impact overall project profitability. These disruptions risk escalating costs and eroding revenue, making it imperative for MROs to monitor financial performance closely.
Streamlined billing systems, integrated into planning workflows, can mitigate these risks by ensuring prompt invoicing and quicker turnaround times for payments. Additionally, incorporating profitability tracking tools into the process allows MROs to monitor projects in real time, ensuring they stay aligned with financial projections. This proactive approach not only safeguards profitability but also supports operational sustainability by identifying potential risks before they escalate.
Planning for the Future with Integrated Solutions
Modern MRO planning requires a holistic approach that integrates all aspects of operations—from labor and inventory management to billing and execution.
At Sensus Aero, we are dedicated to addressing these interconnected challenges through our cloud-based MRO management platform, which delivers:
- Workforce Scheduling Aligned with Operational Needs: Dynamic task assignments and workforce forecasting to ensure the right resources are deployed efficiently.
- Seamless Supply Chain and Inventory Management: Real-time insights into inventory levels and calibration schedules to prevent delays caused by unprepared tools or missing parts.
- Adaptive Management of Non-Routine Tasks: Workflows designed to integrate unplanned repairs smoothly into existing schedules without disrupting operations.
- Streamlined Billing and Cash Cycles: Automated billing processes integrated with finance and accounting systems ensure prompt invoicing, accurate tracking of customer agreements, and support for multiple-currency invoicing. A dedicated customer portal enhances transparency, enabling clients to monitor milestones, progress, and billing statuses, improving financial flows and customer satisfaction.
The Role of Technology in Transforming MRO Planning
Technology continues to reshape how MRO organizations approach planning and execution. Advanced analytics, AI, Machine Learning, integrated software platforms, and data-driven insights offer significant opportunities to enhance planning efficiency.
At Sensus Aero, we are exploring how predictive algorithms and scenario modeling can help MROs analyze multiple variables—such as workload spikes, part shortages, or resource constraints—to provide actionable recommendations for optimal planning.
By aligning these advanced tools with industry best practices, MRO organizations can overcome long-standing inefficiencies and position themselves for future success.
A Call to Action for the Industry
The journey toward operational excellence for MRO organizations begins with addressing key challenges in planning. Inventory management, workforce allocation, and financial workflows are interconnected systems that demand innovative and integrated solutions to achieve seamless efficiency.
At Sensus Aero, we are dedicated to helping MROs overcome these challenges by continuously developing and testing new features and improvements. Our focus is on enabling greater automation, adaptability, and precision, ensuring MRO operations are ready to meet both current demands and future complexities.
As the industry evolves, the question remains: How can MRO organizations continue to innovate and adapt to ever-growing operational challenges? At Sensus Aero, we are committed to leading this evolution, driving advancements in MRO planning and management to support the next generation of maintenance operations.
Jevgenijus Petronis
Head of MRO Product, Sensus Aero
By Furkan Ozgunaydin , Director of Sales and Marketing, Sensus Aero
As we step into 2025, I’ve had the privilege of engaging with MRO leaders across the globe – through conferences, meetings with potential customers, and visits to diverse maintenance facilities. These interactions provided a clear picture of the challenges the industry faces and, more importantly, the opportunities to drive meaningful change.
MROs are the backbone of aviation, yet many still grapple with outdated, inefficient systems and processes that hinder their ability to adapt to modern demands. Here are the key findings and reflections from last year’s journey.
Legacy Systems: A Sunk Cost Holding Back Progress
One recurring theme was the overwhelming reliance on legacy, highly customized on-premises software. These systems, while once innovative, have become a costly burden to maintain and nearly impossible to migrate without significant disruption.
The challenge extends beyond the technical aspects. Many MROs struggle with historical and operational data that is fragmented or misleading, leading to poor decision-making and compounding sunk costs. For component MROs managing complex parts like auxiliary power units (APUs), landing gear, and engines, the lack of comprehensive software to address their unique needs pushes them toward expensive, heavily customized solutions.
The industry is crying out for scalable, adaptable systems that can replace these legacy solutions without the operational headaches and financial strain.
Mobility and IoT: Bridging the Gap to Paperless Operations
Another critical takeaway from the field is the growing demand for mobility in hangar maintenance. With technicians working across vast spaces and handling complex jobs, integrating mobile tools, IoT devices, and real-time inventory, tooling, and job card management has become non-negotiable.
MROs want to transition incrementally to a paperless environment, but this requires solutions that prioritize usability and connectivity. A mobile-first approach, combined with seamless IoT integration, will enable technicians to access, update, and complete tasks without the inefficiencies of traditional processes.
The Challenges of Implementation and Migration
One of the most persistent pain points in adopting new software is the time and cost of implementation. MROs are cautious, as migrating from legacy systems often involves significant downtime and operational disruption.
At Sensus Aero, we’ve addressed this by building solutions rooted in Lean and Agile principles, enabling shorter implementation timelines and smoother migrations. By offering scalable, lightweight systems, we empower MROs to make the transition without compromising their operations.
The Importance of Seamless Integrations
MROs increasingly require
software that integrates with OEM databases, supplier portals, quality assurance systems, and financial tools. However, these integrations are often fraught with technical challenges that delay projects and inflate costs.
Having robust APIs and a partner who prioritizes seamless integrations can eliminate these headaches. Smooth data flow between systems is critical for optimizing workflows and ensuring compliance, all while reducing the manual effort required to keep systems in sync.
Financial Sensitivity: The Margins That Matter
MROs operate on razor-thin margins, where even a single delayed job card or an AOG order can jeopardize project profitability. A key takeaway from my discussions is the critical need for a technology partner who truly understands these financial realities.
Flexible pricing models, such as OPEX-CAPEX hybrids or SaaS options, are increasingly preferred over rigid, high-cost vendor solutions. MROs require adaptable cost structures that align with their operational needs—whether during peak seasons, when part-time or contracted staff are brought on, or during expansion phases that demand additional licenses.
Scalability and Centralized Control
As MROs expand their global reach, the need for centralized solutions becomes critical. Managing operations across multiple locations requires a system that scales effortlessly while maintaining visibility and control.
By offering solutions that adapt to fluctuating staffing and stock levels, MROs can avoid unnecessary costs and
streamline operations during peak activity. Scalability isn’t just about growth—it’s about providing flexibility to meet the demands of a dynamic industry.
Key Takeaways and a Path Forward
The insights gathered over the past year paint a clear picture: the MRO industry must modernize to keep pace with the demands of a rapidly evolving aviation ecosystem. However, modernization does not mean disruption. By embracing flexible, scalable, and integrated solutions, MROs can overcome legacy challenges without sacrificing operational continuity.
The focus should be on:
- Transitioning from legacy systems to lightweight, adaptable platforms.
- Digitizing workflows to enable mobility and IoT-driven efficiencies.
- Prioritizing seamless integrations to streamline operations.
- Adopting financial models that align with the sensitive margins of MRO projects.
- Ensuring scalability to support seasonal fluctuations and geographic expansions.
The journey to modernization is not without its challenges, but the rewards—greater efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced operational agility—are well worth the effort. The question is: how quickly can the industry adapt to this new reality?
By
Matas Stumbrys, Head of Development, Sensus Aero
In the fast-paced world of aviation maintenance, keeping aircraft operational isn’t just a technical challenge – it’s a logistical and regulatory battle. MROs today face a perfect storm of obstacles: evolving Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMMs) and Maintenance Planning Documents (MPDs), supply chain disruptions, a shortage of skilled labor, constant regulatory demands, and the increasing complexity of customized workflows.
Add to this the unique challenges of newer aircraft with their sophisticated systems and older aircraft requiring tailored maintenance processes to meet airline-specific needs, and the pressure on MROs becomes immense. Outdated manual processes, legacy technologies, and organizational silos only exacerbate these issues, costing millions in lost productivity and resources.
It’s clear: the industry needs a better way forward.
Agile and Lean: A Powerful Combination for MROs
At Sensus Aero, we’ve witnessed firsthand how the combination of Agile methodologies and Lean principles transforms MRO software development and operations. Both Agile and Lean share foundational principles such as customer-centricity and continuous improvement. While Agile emphasizes adaptability, collaboration, and delivering value incrementally, Lean focuses on eliminating waste, maximizing customer value, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Together, these approaches align around the core principle of delivering value with efficiency and precision.
Here’s how Agile and Lean tackle the industry’s biggest challenges:
Breaking Down Silos and Standardizing Workflows:
Agile fosters collaboration across traditionally disconnected teams, while Lean emphasizes standardizing processes to reduce variability and waste. Together, these approaches ensure that software development aligns with real-world operational needs and eliminates inefficiencies caused by siloed operations.
Adapting to AMMs, MPDs, and Regulatory Changes:
Agile’s iterative and incremental approach ensures that software updates prioritize customer needs, enabling quick adaptation to changes in AMMs and MPDs while maintaining compliance and minimizing delays. Combined with Lean principles, workflows are optimized through Value Stream Mapping (VSM), identifying and removing inefficiencies to minimize resource waste and enhance customer value.
Modern MRO software further enhances this process by integrating with OEM databases to provide live updates. This ensures maintenance teams always have access to the latest data, boosting compliance and operational efficiency.
Creating Adaptable Software for Diverse Needs:
From General Aviation to Heavy Airframe Maintenance, MROs require tailored solutions that reflect their unique operational demands. Lean principles guide the creation of adaptable workflows that minimize unnecessary steps, while Agile ensures flexibility, enabling the software to evolve seamlessly with tailored customizations for diverse operational needs.
Replacing Manual Processes with Automation:
Agile-driven development empowers teams to focus on delivering value by leveraging automation for repetitive tasks like inventory tracking, task scheduling, and maintenance recordkeeping, reducing errors and improving efficiency. Lean principles enhance this by systematically identifying and eliminating waste, inconsistencies, and overburden, ensuring that automation maximizes efficiency while aligning with customer value.
Providing Real-Time Transparency and Risk Mitigation:
Agile methodologies offer continuous visibility into project progress, allowing MRO managers to identify bottlenecks early and adjust workflows proactively through tools like Sprint Boards in Scrum or Kanban Boards for continuous flow. These visual aids, combined with practices like regular sprint reviews, enable MRO managers to identify bottlenecks early, adapt workflows proactively, and ensure steady delivery of value.
Lean complements this by emphasizing flow efficiency and actionable metrics, ensuring workflows are streamlined, disruptions are minimized, and throughput is maximized through continuous feedback loops.
Future-Proofing with Scalability and Lean Flexibility:
Agile’s adaptability supports the evolution of systems, whether scaling operations to new regions or integrating predictive maintenance tools, ensuring responsiveness to changing demands.
The Power of Agile and Lean in Action
A recent project at Sensus Aero exemplifies how Agile and Lean methodologies are driving real-world impact. We partnered with FL Technics Lithuania, an MRO previously struggling with inefficiencies caused by siloed operations, outdated systems, and complex workflows. Through Agile and Lean principles, we are iteratively replacing legacy systems with a customized ERP solution, continuously delivering value while adapting to evolving needs.
Results to date:
- 20% reduction in downtime through Lean-optimized workflows.
- Automated processes that eliminate human errors, improve accuracy, and save hundreds of hours.
- Flexible, Lean-driven workflows tailored to their diverse and unique operational needs.
- Enhanced labor and material efficiency, optimizing utilization and reducing waste across operations.
As the project progresses, we are expanding and scaling the MRO management software to support FL Technic’s new hangars in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific market. This ongoing transformation not only continues to optimize their existing operations but also equips them to manage future growth and regional expansion with confidence and adaptability.
A Call to Action for the Industry
The aviation industry can no longer rely on outdated systems and rigid processes. Agile and Lean methodologies provide MROs with the flexibility, collaboration, and efficiency needed to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
If your organization is ready to embrace Agile and Lean-driven solutions and unlock the full potential of your operations, let’s start the conversation. Together, we can break down silos, streamline processes, and build a future-ready MRO.
Matas Stumbrys
Head of Development, Sensus Aero
In the dynamic landscape of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations, efficiency and precision are paramount. However, many MRO organizations grapple with entrenched organizational silos, fragmented legacy systems, and manual, paper-based processes. These challenges disrupt smooth operations and hold back the industry’s progress toward modernization.
The Challenge of Organizational Silos
Organizational silos emerge when departments operate in isolation, each with its own processes and objectives. In MRO settings, this often results in disjointed workflows between maintenance, engineering, procurement, and quality assurance teams. Such fragmentation can lead to miscommunication, redundant tasks, and delays, ultimately affecting aircraft turnaround times and operational efficiency.
Fragmented Legacy Systems: A Barrier to Integration
Many MROs rely on legacy systems that were implemented decades ago. These systems, while once state-of-the-art, now struggle to keep pace with the demands of modern aviation maintenance. The lack of integration between these systems means that data is often siloed, making it challenging to obtain a holistic view of operations. This fragmentation can lead to errors, inefficiencies, and increased operational costs.
The Burden of Manual Processes
Despite advancements in technology, manual, paper-based processes remain prevalent in many MRO organizations. Reliance on physical documents for work orders, maintenance logs, and compliance records not only consumes time but also increases the risk of errors and data loss. Moreover, manual processes make it difficult to track real-time progress and generate actionable insights, limiting an organization’s ability to respond swiftly to emerging issues.
The Path Forward: Embracing Digital Transformation
To overcome these challenges, MROs must embark on a journey of digital transformation. This involves adopting integrated, modular ERP systems designed specifically for the aviation industry. Such systems unify various functions—maintenance planning, inventory management, labor tracking, and compliance—into a cohesive platform. By doing so, organizations can break down silos, streamline workflows, and enhance data visibility across all departments.
For instance, implementing a comprehensive
MRO software solution can automate routine tasks, reduce human error, and provide real-time insights into operations. This not only improves efficiency but also enables better decision-making and resource allocation. Furthermore, digital tools can facilitate compliance with industry regulations by maintaining accurate, up-to-date records and generating necessary reports with ease.
Case in Point: Sensus Aero’s Approach
Sensus Aero was built by MRO professionals, directly from the day-to-day demands of the hangar. With years of hands-on testing and industry expertise, this platform addresses the core needs of maintenance teams by covering every step of the MRO process—from quoting and planning to inventory management and billing. Unlike rigid, outdated systems, Sensus Aero’s flexible, modular design allows MROs to adapt quickly, reduce errors, and keep operations running smoothly with clear oversight.
Conclusion
The aviation maintenance industry stands at a crossroads. To remain competitive and meet the evolving demands of the market, MRO organizations must address the challenges posed by organizational silos, fragmented legacy systems, and manual processes. Embracing digital transformation through integrated ERP solutions offers a viable path forward, leading to streamlined operations, improved efficiency, and a stronger position in the global aviation landscape.
In the complex and highly regulated world of MRO operations, managing employee records and administration with precision is essential. From maintaining comprehensive employee records to ensuring compliance, Sensus Aero ERP is designed to streamline these critical functions, allowing your MRO to operate smoothly and efficiently.
Comprehensive Employee Records Management
Managing employee information goes beyond just storing basic details. Sensus Aero’s Employee Records module ensures that every aspect of an employee’s profile is meticulously tracked and easily accessible.
User & Employer Information
The system captures all essential employee details, including certificates, signed documents, addresses, emails, and more. This data is securely stored with full traceability, ensuring that every change is logged and can be audited when necessary. With Single Sign-On (SSO) or Active Directory integration managing user identities becomes seamless, with any changes in employee information automatically reflected in the system.
Role Segregation
The system enforces strict role segregation based on our customers needs, ensuring that no single user can create, modify, authorize, and approve a financial transaction or vendor-related document. If a user is mapped to roles that might conflict, such as both buyer and approver, the system will issue an alert, ensuring that proper segregation is implemented. This feature helps prevent fraud and ensures that your operations remain compliant.
Overtime Tracking and Release Management
Managing employee time, particularly overtime, is crucial in maintaining operational efficiency and controlling costs. Sensus Aero’s Overtime Tracker allows you to monitor and manage overtime hours effectively, ensuring that all work is properly recorded and compensated.
Release Management
Deploying updates and maintaining the system is a critical part of keeping your operations running smoothly. Sensus Aero provides a robust deployment process that allows for controlled release management. We offer training for your IT team to manage deployments in a live environment, ensuring that updates are carried out seamlessly without risking system integrity.
HRMS Integration and Reporting
Integration with your existing HRMS is vital for comprehensive employee management. Sensus Aero can integrate with your HRMS to manage employee records, training, skill assignments, and expiration tracking.
Reporting and Data Integration
Sensus Aero offers a variety of standard reports, including Purchase Orders, Quotations, and Invoices, as well as more detailed Management Information System (MIS) reports. For deeper insights, the system integrates with data lakes and other platforms, allowing for comprehensive data analysis and reporting across all modules.
Integration with 3rd Party Software
At Sensus Aero, our tech stack is our biggest advantage. Built with the latest and most advanced generation of code, our solution delivers minimal latency and maximum speed, ensuring optimal performance whether on-premise or in the cloud. We understand that MROs rely heavily on a variety of tools and systems, which is why Sensus Aero is open to evaluating and integrating with 3rd party tools, providing a seamless, high-performance experience across your entire operation
Elevating Employee and Operational Management
Effective management of employee records and administrative tasks is vital for the success of any MRO. Sensus Aero ERP offers a comprehensive, compliant, and integrated solution that enhances your ability to manage these critical functions, ensuring that your operations run smoothly and efficiently.
Are you ready to take your employee management and administrative processes to the next level? Let’s explore how Sensus Aero can help you achieve greater compliance, efficiency, and operational excellence.
In the fast-paced world of MRO operations, managing contracts, service level agreements (SLAs), and financial transactions is the backbone of profitability. As MROs face unprecedented challenges—from labor shortages and supply chain disruptions to surging demand—the need for a robust, flexible system to handle these complexities is more critical than ever. Sensus Aero’s Commerce and Finance suite is designed to meet these demands, providing MROs with the tools they need to stay ahead on the books!
Contract Management: Flexibility at Its Core
Contracts are the lifeblood of any MRO operation, and the ability to manage them effectively can make or break your margins. Sensus Aero’s contract management module offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to tailor contracts to fit the unique needs of each customer—even within the same organization. Whether you’re dealing with general terms or specific agreements for long-term maintenance cycles like 6-year or 12-year checks, the system adapts to your requirements, ensuring that every detail is captured and managed efficiently.
Cost Management: Accurate and Transparent
In an industry where margins are tight, accurate cost management is essential. Sensus Aero allows you to track labor hours, materials, and non-routine estimates with precision. From detailed maintenance department cost breakdowns to corrective action tracking, every element is accounted for. This transparency helps MROs avoid unexpected costs and ensures that all expenses are clearly documented and easily accessible.
Billing & Invoicing: Precision in Every Transaction
Billing and invoicing are where the rubber meets the road in terms of revenue generation. Sensus Aero supports both quote-based and actual-based billing, allowing for flexibility depending on the contract terms. The system covers all customer requirements, including overheads, non-routine’s , additional charges and handles multi-currency management seamlessly, with live rates pulled from the European Central Bank. This ensures that all conversions are accurate, and any discrepancies are managed effectively, reducing the risk of revenue leakage.
Profit Margin Tracer: Monitoring Profitability in Real-Time
Maintaining healthy profit margins is a constant challenge, especially as work progresses on a complex project. Sensus Aero’s Profit Margin Tracer is designed to help MROs track margins on a per-job, per-customer, or per-region basis. As parts are issued and labor is recorded, the system tracks whether the projected margin will be met, allowing you to make adjustments on the fly. This proactive approach helps safeguard profitability and ensures that potential threats to margins are identified and addressed early.
Customer Portal: Enhancing Client Interaction
In today’s digital age, providing customers with easy access to their accounts and ongoing projects is no longer just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. Sensus Aero offers a customer portal where clients can log in to view project statuses, interact with your team, approve or reject non routine cards or additional parts and labor. This transparency and ease of access build trust and improve customer satisfaction.
Finance Integration: A Seamless Workflow
Sensus Aero is built to integrate seamlessly with financial systems, whether for time and material tracking, procurement management, or aircraft data. With a range of touchpoints and API capabilities, the system ensures that all financial data flows smoothly between departments, reducing the risk of errors and enhancing overall efficiency.
Driving Profitability and Efficiency in MRO Operations
In a challenging market, the ability to manage contracts, costs, and finances effectively is crucial. Sensus Aero’s Commerce and Finance suite equips MROs with the tools needed to navigate these complexities, ensuring that every project is profitable and every transaction is precise.
Are you ready to take control of your MRO’s commercial and financial operations? Let’s explore how Sensus Aero can help you achieve sustainable profitability and operational excellence.