Due to the quantity of information involved the function of Inventory Management can be very complex. Based on that fact the primary objective of the Inventory Management Module is to provide the user with a suite of tools that allow easy management of large quantities of information.

Part information is the highest level of data within RAAS and most functions in RAAS relate to a part. An action cannot be carried out in RAAS if the part the action affects has not been created or does not allow for the action. Having said this it follows that the way parts are created and maintained affect all of the modules of RAAS and the ease with which part data can be maintained ultimately determines how useful RAAS really is.

The RAAS approach to part data is that everything is a part. This means that the client company, fight and maintenance bases, inventories, aircraft, engines, propellers, components, inspections, and consumables are all considered parts. This methodology allows RAAS to maintain all part data within one data storage area and it also allows an easy and logical hierarchical structure to be imposed on part management. Using this approach RAAS is able to provide a host of features to aid the Inventory Management process.

• Alternative Part Number System
• Min/Max Systems
• Consumption History and Stale Stock Identification
• Part Lookup and Stock Availability Utility
• Part Requisitioning and Purchasing
• Trace-ability
• Warranty, Rental and Loaner Tracking
• Qualified Vendor

Alternative Part Number System

RAAS identifies alternative part numbers as any group of part numbers that share a common part description. Within each group of alternative part numbers one part number must be identified as the master part number. All remaining part numbers are considered acceptable alternatives unless identified as being obsolete. Each part number can be further identified in respect to aircraft type and serial number applicability, which is to say that the user can specify which part numbers can be installed on various aircraft types, and further, aircraft serial numbers.

Min/Max Systems

Minimum and Maximum levels can be specified for every group of alternative part numbers within each physical inventory location. Min/Max reporting includes automated re-order features to help automate the part requisitioning and purchasing process.

Consumption History and Stale Stock Identification

RAAS automatically updates consumption history as parts are issued. Monthly consumption history is kept on hand for the past 12 months plus consumption for the current month to date. In addition users can query for specific consumption for any period of time in the past. Based on consumption history RAAS is able to identify stale inventory or over-stock items.

Part Lookup and Stock Availability Utility

Perhaps the most frequently used aspect of RAAS the Part Lookup and Stock Availability Utility offers a number of convenient part research tools. After having located the requested information the user can advance to the Availability screen to view available inventory, on-wing and awaiting repair inventory, stock that has been issued to jobs in progress, status of items currently out for repair at either third-party overhaul facilities or internal job shops, average purchase price per alternative part number and the 5 most recent purchase records.

Numerous links are available from the Availability screen that allow the user to view part number and/or serial number specific historical analysis reports, vendor details, serial number details and purchase order details.

Part Requisitioning and Purchasing

See the Part Requests and Purchasing.

Trace-ability

RAAS maintains inventory trace-ability according to last receipt and will create a new trace number for every quantity received into an inventory. More importantly, RAAS records and is able to report on the trace number of every part issued from inventory in respect to the job the part was issued to.

Warranty, Rental and Loaner Tracking

Warranty and rental items can be tracked and reported-on according to time remaining much like a maintenance forecast. Also, if a part is removed from an aircraft via Technical Maintenance Input and that part is shown to be under warranty the TMI user will be notified and can automatically email warranty alert notifications to other interested parties.

Loaner tracking is a function of part ownership and inventory reports can be generated according to owner.

Qualified Vendor

Each part number can optionally have a list of qualified vendors associated with it. This feature is part of the vendor control and auditing features within RAAS. The list of qualified vendors is taken into account when a Purchasing Agent attempts to order parts and/or generate Request for Quotations.