Let's face it, shipping aircraft parts to and from your facility is vital for your aircraft maintenance planning initiatives. But without a clear plan, money could be leaking out in unexpected places.
Who likes wasteful spending? Not me and I can bet you don't either.
Think about how much you spend and ask yourself how excited you would be if you could reduce this cost by 25%. Is that possible?
Of course, it is.
Utilize these 4 tips and save money on your aircraft maintenance planning initiatives:
1) Consolidate everything
Consolidating your shipments will be the most cost-effective solution you can implement. This doesn't apply to urgent shipments, but it does apply to everything else.
According to Industry Week, a life science company identified a 13% freight cost savings by "…analyzing logistics management processes and finding opportunities to increase consolidation of shipments".
We consolidate all outgoing repair management contracts and aircraft check projects. It's a smart solution to what could be an out of control cost expenditure.
2) Negotiate rates based on volume
Don't let your freight forwarders or express couriers dictate your initial cost. Give them a forecast of how much you're going to be
We just recently did this with FedEx. We gave them our running averages to specific locations and they extended an express rate discount over 5%. Not bad!
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3) Reuse packaging, but don't let protection suffer
Reuse all boxes, bubble, and popcorn that is sent to you. All you have to do is dedicate a small section on your shipping floor for this reuse. This will save you time and money instead of having to continually buy new shipping material.
We've also seen companies reuse boxes that were previously drenched in Skydrol. When the shipment arrived the component was practically falling out. Don't reuse boxes at the expense of protecting the material inside.
4) Utilize your aircraft maintenance partner
Your aircraft maintenance partner can be a valuable resource in reducing your shipping costs. They may have pre-established discounts that you can take advantage of. Don't feel bad. Tell them "I want you to manage the logistics to and from our facility'. They should kindly accept.
They should also know and understand the first 3 tips to help fulfill your cost saving initiatives. It would also be a good idea if they implemented these ideas as well.
Shipping is a vital action in your organization. Your logistics strategy should continually be updated, modified and changed to meet your needs both financially and for the sake of time. Shipping components is a necessity so it's a good idea to use partners that you can trust and will help you reduce your freight expenditure.
