Smart Future Solutions for Maintenance of Aircraft : Enhancing Aircraft Maintenance at Saab AB

This master thesis has the purpose to analyse and identify smart efficient future solutions within the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) process for aircraft. The efficiency solutions, in form of new technologies and tools, should present a foundation that MRO suppliers can continue to develop to enhance and streamline their maintenance processes. The project was performed as a case study at the aerospace and defense company Saab AB in Linköping, where the company's MRO process was investigated. Through identifying possibilities and alternative technologies available today and in the near future, one continues to have a competitive and future-proof position in the market. Through an own constructed course of action influenced from established methods, the thesis' purpose and aim was attained. The method was based on authentic approaches for case studies but also inspired by the so-called "Requirement Engineering". The combination of the methods resulted in a precise focus on the relevant subjects, together with a clear structure of the requirements on the technologies to reach a successful implementation. Through a detailed data collection comprised of study visits, interviews, literature studies, market analyses, and document reviews, multiple relevant technologies and requirement-lists for utilization were identified. To concretize the use and potential improvements with the technologies, the project had the objective to develop a demonstrator with one of the technologies presented. The demonstrator should focus on minimizing the use of paper, which is a common problem among many market actors today. The most promising technology was considered to be a tablet application with an accommodated application. The selection of the tablet solution was based on the motivation that it is a well-established technology and a favorable first step from paperwork. To conclude this master thesis, a tablet application was developed in Novacura Flow Studio, where the majority of the identified requirements were fulfilled. Beyond the demonstrator, an introduction and analysis of technologies, such as AR-glasses, voice guidance, additive manufacturing, and a digital twin, was presented