AuRA™ implementation at SAS reduces costs, supports new business processes

Scandinavian Airlines successfully implemented the AuRA™ application to reduce maintenance costs, improve reliability, and move forward to adopt new industry 'best practices' and data standards. The AuRA system was implemented at SAS - Stockholm, with 'go-live' of the first A321 aircraft occurring in April 2006 -- only 13 months after the start of the implementation effort – and with the final aircraft coming on line in November 2006. The scope of the project provides an AuRA solution for SAS for EASA Part M activity that includes engineering management, technical records, maintenance control, maintenance planning and work package management.

AuRA replaced a variety of legacy IT systems at SAS, thus reducing IT costs and allowing SAS to achieve its goal of reducing IT costs to 2.8% of revenue. SAS has calculated the project Return on Investment (ROI) between 18 – 24 months.

Ulf Nystrom, head of Technical Operations at Scandinavian Airlines said, "The AuRA implementation gave us the powerful system we needed to strengthen our maintenance and Engineering operations and substantially improve efficiency and lower costs." Maintenance cost reductions, now possible with more accurate information that allows more efficient scheduling of maintenance intervals, comprise the lion's share of the anticipated savings. About 15% of the projected savings are attributed to the operation and administration of the old legacy MRO system being replaced.

The AuRA project is now being extended in scope to seamlessly integrate JAR145 functions within SAS Technical Services (STS). STS will leverage the AuRA technology as parts of its Engineering services offering to its airline customers. Miro and STS have already implemented AuRA at Estonian Air, an affiliate airline of the SAS Group. Plans are now in work to next bring AuRA to SAS Braathens, an SAS subsidiary airline that operates 52 Boeing 737s and 6 Fokker 50s.

Team effort required to seamlessly transition Air Force C-130J engine program to GOLD™

Miro recently led a team effort to implement GOLD™ for a major aircraft engine manufacturer to manage maintenance and logistics for the Air Force C-130J AE 2100D3 Engine Program. The project was unusual in that it required a 'seamless transition' from the incumbent contractor to the new contractor in record time, without interruption of ongoing base-level support to the Air Force.

This program was unlike any other which Miro Technologies had previously supported. Although GOLD is the software solution of choice for 15 of the 18 Air Force Contractor Supported Weapons Support System (CSWS) programs, Miro is typically engaged when a new CSWS program is first implemented by the Air Force. In the case of the C-130J AE 2100D3 Engine Program, the C-130J program was already functioning at full tempo under the management of the incumbent contractor. So the challenge was to orchestrate the transition from one contractor support activity to another without interruption of base-level support to the Air Force.

The aircraft engine manufacturer and AAR – with technical support from Miro Technologies - worked directly with the Air Force and the incumbent contractor to coordinate the transfer of operations to the new system. Less than 45 days after Miro Technologies received a purchase order for the GOLD software license, the OEM went 'LIVE' on GOLD for support of the Air Force C-130J program. On that day, the material trucked from the incumbent contractor's facilities at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS was unloaded at the UPS warehouse in the OEM's central USA location, material was stowed, inbound requisitions from seven different Air Force activities were automatically processed by GOLD, picking tickets were auto-generated, and shipments were made. Within the first week, several hundred requisitions were processed and over 15 MICAPs (high priority, down-aircraft requirements) were satisfied. During the weeks immediately following the 'Live' date, Miro Technologies, AAR, the OEM, and UPS continued to work together to conduct training, refine business processes, determine stocking levels for each of the eight supported Air Force bases, and complete the transfer of MILS and logistics records to the OEM.

Miro continues global expansion with entry into China

Miro recently announced the appointment of Beijing Hi-Key Technology Corporation Ltd. (Hi-Key Technology) as its representative for China. Hi-Key Technology, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, is a privately-held engineering software and service company that has served China's Aerospace & Defense market for over ten years.

Entry into China represents another important step toward global expansion for Miro. The California-based software and services company appointed CMC Limited as its agent for the Indian sub-continent in January 2006, and subsequently announced SriLankan Airlines as its first major airline customer in the region.

"China's aviation industry is growing quickly and creating demand for best-of-breed maintenance and supply software solutions," said Vincent Monteparte, President & CEO of Miro Technologies. "Hi-Key Technology has the industry experience and resources to effectively introduce Miro's new GOLD™esp and AuRA™ product lines to customers and prospects in this important market," he added.

"We believe many of our customers will be highly interested in Miro's maintenance and supply management software tools," said Harry Xuan, President, CEO and founder of Hi-Key Technology, who signed the agreement to represent Miro while attending the annual GOLD User Group Conference last week in La Jolla, California. Hi-Key Tech has more than 300 customers in China, most of them in aircraft and engine manufacturing, shipbuilding and automotive.

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