Mastering the Aerospace Supply Chain
Reducing lead times and inventory costs through automated procurement and parts tracking.
Client
Major Aircraft Manufacturer
Service
UI/UX Design
Year
2025
The company faced significant operational inefficiencies in managing defective and obsolete materials within its production plants. The existing process relied heavily on manual workflows, where Excel spreadsheets were shared via email to track and manage material dispositions.
This manual approach created bottlenecks, increased the risk of errors, and made it difficult to maintain a clear overview of the material flow.
The material disposition process involved multiple stages, where items were sent to different areas to determine whether they could be reused or required further disposition. If no use was identified, the materials were either sold or discarded, at which point the administration of scrap notes became critical. This fragmented and labor-intensive process not only increased storage costs but also negatively impacted the company's operational and financial efficiency.
Research & Discovery
The project began with an in-depth analysis of the existing manual process. Interviews were conducted with stakeholders and end-users to understand their pain points and gather insights into the challenges they faced. The research revealed that the reliance on Excel spreadsheets and email communication was a major bottleneck, leading to inefficiencies and errors.
To better understand and improve the flow, user flows for synchronous data loading were created.
To better understand and improve the flow, user flows for aynchronous data loadingwere created. These flows helped identify how Excel was being used and provided a foundation for planning the new system's processes. Additionally, user journey maps were developed to visualize the end-to-end experience and identify key pain points and opportunities for optimization.
This phase provided a clear understanding of the current state and informed the direction of the project, ensuring that the proposed solution addressed the users' needs effectively.
Ideation & Planning
Based on the insights gathered during the research phase, the team proposed a centralized digital platform to replace the manual workflows. The ideation process involved brainstorming sessions to define the system's core functionalities, such as bulk material disposition, scrap note management, and real-time tracking.
A new information architecture was planned to streamline workflows and ensure that all interdependent processes were accounted for. The planning phase also included defining the user journey and mapping out the key touchpoints to create a seamless experience.
Design & Prototyping
The design phase focused on creating a modern and cohesive user interface using the Air DS Design System. Prototypes were developed to visualize the proposed solution and ensure alignment with the client's needs.
The system's architecture and components were restructured to organize information in a clear and functional manner.
Special attention was given to bulk dispositions, as they were critical for reducing stored materials and associated costs.
The team also incorporated features for managing scrap notes, allowing users to track and document the final disposition of materials. Collaboration with the front-end team ensured that the designs were implemented accurately and efficiently.
Testing & Iteration
Usability tests were conducted using the Maze platform with key users to validate the proposed solution. Heatmaps and user feedback were analyzed to identify areas for improvement.
The iterative process involved refining the prototypes and making adjustments based on the test results. This approach ensured that the final solution met the users' needs and provided a seamless experience..
The Result
The project successfully replaced the manual workflows with a centralized digital platform, significantly reducing storage and material management costs.
The new system provided real-time visibility into the material disposition process, improving operational efficiency and decision-making.
By eliminating the reliance on Excel spreadsheets and emails, the solution streamlined workflows and minimized the risk of errors. The modern and intuitive interface, designed with the Air DS Design System, enhanced the user experience and ensured consistency across the platform.
Mastering the Aerospace Supply Chain
Reducing lead times and inventory costs through automated procurement and parts tracking.
Client
Major Aircraft Manufacturer
Service
UI/UX Design
Year
2025
The company faced significant operational inefficiencies in managing defective and obsolete materials within its production plants. The existing process relied heavily on manual workflows, where Excel spreadsheets were shared via email to track and manage material dispositions.
This manual approach created bottlenecks, increased the risk of errors, and made it difficult to maintain a clear overview of the material flow.
The material disposition process involved multiple stages, where items were sent to different areas to determine whether they could be reused or required further disposition. If no use was identified, the materials were either sold or discarded, at which point the administration of scrap notes became critical. This fragmented and labor-intensive process not only increased storage costs but also negatively impacted the company's operational and financial efficiency.
Research & Discovery
The project began with an in-depth analysis of the existing manual process. Interviews were conducted with stakeholders and end-users to understand their pain points and gather insights into the challenges they faced. The research revealed that the reliance on Excel spreadsheets and email communication was a major bottleneck, leading to inefficiencies and errors.
To better understand and improve the flow, user flows for synchronous data loading were created.
To better understand and improve the flow, user flows for aynchronous data loadingwere created. These flows helped identify how Excel was being used and provided a foundation for planning the new system's processes. Additionally, user journey maps were developed to visualize the end-to-end experience and identify key pain points and opportunities for optimization.
This phase provided a clear understanding of the current state and informed the direction of the project, ensuring that the proposed solution addressed the users' needs effectively.
Ideation & Planning
Based on the insights gathered during the research phase, the team proposed a centralized digital platform to replace the manual workflows. The ideation process involved brainstorming sessions to define the system's core functionalities, such as bulk material disposition, scrap note management, and real-time tracking.
A new information architecture was planned to streamline workflows and ensure that all interdependent processes were accounted for. The planning phase also included defining the user journey and mapping out the key touchpoints to create a seamless experience.
Design & Prototyping
The design phase focused on creating a modern and cohesive user interface using the Air DS Design System. Prototypes were developed to visualize the proposed solution and ensure alignment with the client's needs.
The system's architecture and components were restructured to organize information in a clear and functional manner.
Special attention was given to bulk dispositions, as they were critical for reducing stored materials and associated costs.
The team also incorporated features for managing scrap notes, allowing users to track and document the final disposition of materials. Collaboration with the front-end team ensured that the designs were implemented accurately and efficiently.
Testing & Iteration
Usability tests were conducted using the Maze platform with key users to validate the proposed solution. Heatmaps and user feedback were analyzed to identify areas for improvement.
The iterative process involved refining the prototypes and making adjustments based on the test results. This approach ensured that the final solution met the users' needs and provided a seamless experience..
The Result
The project successfully replaced the manual workflows with a centralized digital platform, significantly reducing storage and material management costs.
The new system provided real-time visibility into the material disposition process, improving operational efficiency and decision-making.
By eliminating the reliance on Excel spreadsheets and emails, the solution streamlined workflows and minimized the risk of errors. The modern and intuitive interface, designed with the Air DS Design System, enhanced the user experience and ensured consistency across the platform.