MORE THAN JUST PARTS
�Parts is parts!�
Or so claimed a popular commercial for a major fast-food chain. That may be true of whatever goes into the creation of euphemistically named �chicken nuggets,� but it�s certainly not the case with aircraft parts.
Just ask Pam Brown, parts buyer and researcher for Twin Commander Aircraft LLC. It�s her responsibility to make sure top-quality replacement parts and upgrade kits manufactured under Twin Commander�s type certificate are available for the worldwide fleet.
�I buy parts,� she says, but that simple job description covers a lot of ground. Brown works with authorized service centers and in-house staff at Twin Commander Aircraft to forecast parts needs, and then uses those forecasts to manage production by approved vendors who manufacture the parts. Her goal is to strike a balance between stocking the correct mix and quantity of replacement parts and upgrade kits to fulfill orders without delay, while also keeping factory inventory at cost-effective levels. Too much inventory is expensive, while too little leads to order backlogs and AOG problems.
�I try to keep a crystal ball handy,� says Brown. �We review our stocks regularly and make adjustments as necessary. We look at the sales history over the last two years and lead-time for replacement parts to plan our inventory. I think we do a pretty good job of stocking items that are needed on a regular basis.�
If the unexpected occurs and an order comes in for a part that is not in stock, the staff at Twin Commander Aircraft looks for ways to avoid an AOG situation. �We may be able to take the needed part out of a custom kit,� Brown says, �or sometimes it is possible to use another part. We also will call a vendor to see if they can expedite production of the part.�
Vendor relationships are key to Twin Commander Aircraft�s fleet support. Brown does initial vetting of potential vendors to determine if they can meet Twin Commander�s quality standards, and can handle short production runs with small quantities. Some vendors have been with Twin Commander since the airplane was still being manufactured in Bethany, Oklahoma, according to Brown.
Equally important in evaluating potential vendors is cost. �We look at vendor pricing very carefully,� she says. �We strive to keep the cost of manufacturing parts down so we can keep the airplane affordable for owners and operators.�
A six-year veteran of Twin Commander Aircraft who made the move with the company from Arlington, Washington, to Creedmoor, North Carolina, Brown previously worked as a buyer for a machine shop that produces Twin Commander parts.
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