AeroVantix Support Portal by TRW Said to Be Here, Now, and Working

Launched at the Paris Air Show in June, TRW Aeronautical Systems (Lucas Aerospace)'s multi-million dollar investment, their AeroVantix/Aeroservices aerospace e-business portal, was made to ensure customers have 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week access to the company and its supply base, with online self-service to key data. This new venture has come on-stream during TRW's centennial year.

Ken Maciver, CEO and president of TRW Aeronautical Systems, said, "What we are introducing is a fully-integrated supply chain operation, not soon or in prospect, but here and now, unlike some of the more publicized portals."

AeroVantix is available to all TRW Aeronautical Systems customers and suppliers at no cost and is now being rolled out across the company. TRW claims that the portal provides customer benefits by reducing the time-to-market of new products, creating a collaborative environment, and simplifying business processes, thereby reducing lead times and costs. The system offers buy-side and sell-side transactions, engineering collaboration and supply-chain management through a single login at www.aerovantix.com.

AeroVantix also allows real-time collaborative engineering with customers and suppliers using creative design CAD/CAM simulations that help in hammering down costs and minimizing risk. This on-line technology is particularly important on innovative engineering projects such as new aircraft design.

Airlines can now place repair work orders directly through TRW's newly launched MRO maintenance repair and overhaul management services, TRWAeroservices. Spares orders will be tracked in real-time, with customers gaining access to both catalog buying and direct materiel procurement.

Supply chain management is also cited as a real bonus of the system, with real-time delivery of aircraft- and engine-build requirements moving seamlessly across the supply chain. The portal has multilingual as well as multi-currency standards to enable TRW Aeronautical Systems to interface with its customers globally.

Dave Cote, CEO of TRW Inc., told Show News, "We see the power of e-business as accelerating the velocity of business and adding service value to our customers. As one of the world's leading technology companies, we are planning to take the lead through this portal by offering truly compelling functionality."