NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF SAFRAN

The MAR$ project saw the light of day in 2021, following an observation by Safran Nacelles: a number of airlines and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) operators buy parts not made by Safran or used parts from sites selling them at cut-rate prices. On mature aircraft, competitors to the original manufacturer can win up to 50% of total sales for these spare parts. The Covid crisis has only accelerated this process, as the early dismantling of many airplanes increases the available stock of used parts.

A winner at the 2021 Safran Innovation Awards, MAR$ needs just a few seconds to screen several sites selling used spare parts, in order to identify and characterize competing solutions. Our staff now have access to key market data, such as prices and quantities available, on their own personalized dashboards. Safran Nacelles, for instance, tracks more than 25,000 spare parts!

Thanks to this proof of concept (POC) at Safran Nacelles, the MAR$ project was implemented at seven other Safran companies in less than a year, with support from Safran Analytics and our Digital and Information Systems division (DDSI). MAR$ is an excellent example of a project that creates value for both Safran and our customers.

“We build test cells for different business sectors, which means we deal with customers that have different expectations, restrictions and cultures. Of course we have to adapt to their needs, but it’s also important to really listen to what they propose. And that’s why we organized a brainstorming session in Singapore back in 2019. It was a smash hit! In 2021 we had to decide how to follow up on this success, and also monitor the actual projects that resulted from the first seminar. We wanted to maintain this special contact with our customers, so we organized an interactive broadcast “news show”, spotlighting progress on each project. Our customers were delighted to see the progress made and also our commitment to staying in touch, despite current circumstances.”