Airports, especially larger airports, require a massive amount of organization and collaboration to operate efficiently. Thousands of people pass through an airport on a given day, and to ensure that operations proceed smoothly, airports place a great deal of importance on various assets.

Each piece of equipment needs to be maintained and kept in working order to avoid safety hazards and scheduling delays. To meet this requirement, it’s also crucial to be aware of personnel task lists and current location.

To properly manage the elements of airport operations, monitoring assets is a must, which is where asset tracking systems come into play.

What is Asset Tracking?

In the aviation industry, asset tracking is a term used to describe the process of monitoring and collecting information on an array of airport equipment via an Airport Asset Management system.

This process is designed to organize and initiate standard airport operations regarding asset management, like scheduling maintenance work on a given asset, or determining an asset’s status along its lifecycle.

Airport assets that might be monitored under an Airport Asset Management system include but are not limited to:

• Baggage Handling Equipment
• Boarding bridges
• Airport vehicles
• Airfield lighting and signage
• Building Systems such as HVAC, Lighting and Mechanical systems

Monitoring these assets through an asset tracking tool provides management with accurate data, which can then be used to plan for repairs and maintenance work in the future.

Asset Tracking in Real-Time

Real-time asset tracking is, as the name suggests, a method of collecting information about an asset at an exact point in time. Tracking the current status and location of an asset can be completed with the use of several techniques. The technique an airport chooses depends on the asset in question and the compatibility of different tools.

For example, assets can be tracked in real-time using GPS technology, Bluetooth beacons, radio frequency identification, or sensors connected to an online network.

Features of Real-Time Asset Tracking

Real-time asset tracking monitors various aspects of maintaining an asset in the aviation industry. One system can collect and organize the following information:

• Physical asset details, such as location, scheduled maintenance, current status, maintenance worker assigned to the task, and ETA on maintenance completion
• Specific information about the asset, including, maintenance schedules (past and current), operating condition, warranty information, manufacturer documents, any billing required,
• Inventory management, such as available parts on-hand for maintenance procedures
• Collection and storage of data and analytical reports

How does real-time asset tracking benefit the industry?

Having a reliable asset tracking system reduces the need for manual processing in maintenance and management. With real-time notifications and automatic system updates, workers do not have to initiate manual entries for every change made. In addition, real-time asset tracking reduces the need to look for lost or missing items, eliminates guesswork when determining availability, and cuts down on unnecessary human labor. As such, the system saves airports money and improves efficiency.

In addition to cost-savings, implementing the use of a real-time Airport Asset Management system into aviation operations can lead to positive changes throughout facilities as a whole. For example:

• Airport Security: Airport security personnel can fill numerous roles throughout the facility, and with the use of a reliable asset tracking system, these individuals can operate more efficiently when an issue occurs. Through the use of real-time notifications, security personnel can address a problem immediately, creating a safer airport for visitors and other staff.
• Passenger Experience: Equipment malfunctions can lead to delays in schedules, which inconveniences passengers. However, the use of asset tracking systems can prevent malfunctions from occurring by ensuring that each piece of equipment is in working order. Preventing avoidable issues from occurring improves the customer experience by reducing delays and increasing safety throughout airport operations.
• Airport Operations: Asset tracking systems allow airport personnel to keep a watchful eye on employees and assets alike. This way, misplacement or theft of expensive assets are reduced and efficiency is improved thanks to the ability to pinpoint which assets and employees are available at a given time.
• Reports and Audits: Airport personnel can use data collected and organized by the asset monitoring system to plan maintenance, keep track of reports, and ensure that each piece of equipment complies with regulations.

Real-time asset monitoring provides invaluable support and organizational capabilities throughout aviation facilities. By keeping close track of equipment maintenance requirements and personnel schedules, airports can save money, increase efficiency, and improve safety across the board. Real-time tracking is crucial in the effective management of today’s airports.

Management teams operating asset-intensive businesses have a long list of processes to monitor and expensive equipment to maintain in order to keep their business running smoothly. A single error can result in increased costs, labor, and downtime, which is why many asset managers trust IBM’s Maximo asset management software.

The asset management features available in the IBM Maximo Application Suite present management teams with an array of effective solutions to monitor, organize, and simplify standard processes. The suite includes applications focused on workplace safety, remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, AI-aided inspections, operational data, and additional cutting-edge technologies designed to optimize asset management.

Let’s examine the organization and optimization capabilities of Maximo software in relation to asset management.

Process Efficiency

IBM’s Maximo software utilizes a system of process management tools that aid businesses in effectively meeting the requirements present in a given industry. The application suite combines a variety of features so that management teams can streamline day-to-day processes without missing any key steps or running into delays along the way.

The system improves efficiency when it comes to asset management by allowing central control of asset-related activities like scheduling, maintenance, performance, and resource optimization.  Maximo’s software makes it simple to ensure adequate inventory levels, maintenance availability, contract management, asset tracking, and much more.

Each element of asset management can be handled in one location and asset management teams can quite easily reduce wasted time and costs associated with inefficient practices.

Utilization of Analytics

IBM Asset Management Solutions allow teams to merge real-time asset data and information. The utilization of the analytical features can reduce task scheduling and complexity, streamline an array of business processes, and integrate multiple systems to where they operate in a single, highly-functional network.

The integration allows past and present collections of analytical data to generate reports that provide insight as to which processes are operating effectively and which processes could stand to see some improvement.

For example, data collection and analysis can be used to reduce downtimes, extend equipment lifecycles, increase effective business operations, focus various maintenance resources to fit needs, and unify business processes throughout a selection of sectors (automotive, electronic, IoT, manufacturing, etc.).

Real-Time Data

The collection and analysis of real-time data allows management teams to utilize user-friendly reports to support decision-making across the entirety of the business. In asset-intensive organizations, Maximo’s asset management solutions can:

• Reduce risks by determining the importance of the assets used throughout the company (based on resource limits and availability, asset criticality, etc.)
• Monitor assets in their physical locations and determine location hierarchies
• Capture, organize, and analyze maintenance information, failure data, and monitoring information to develop predictive maintenance and reliability-centered maintenance plans
• Improve maintenance practices by integrating environmental information, health and safety protocols, and operational history through Maximo’s unification of incident management reports, risk analysis, and more

Time & Cost Savings

Maximo prevents unnecessary downtime and reduces costs by allowing asset management teams to easily keep track of all the elements involved in maximizing asset returns. The system provides real-time information regarding:

• Parts Inventories
• Available Technicians
• Physical Locations of Assets
• Maintenance History and Schedules
• Contract Management Information
• Warranties
• Leasing Information

With these key informational components available at the fingertips of asset managers, businesses can easily conduct preventative maintenance, avoid fees, and ensure that staff and inventories are available before maintenance is scheduled. Being certain that every element is in order reduces labor hours, lost time, and the possibility of misplacing valuable assets.

The IBM Asset Management Solutions utilized by various businesses lead to significant ROIs, as well as the following labor-related benefits:

• Up to 20% reduction in the cost of labor
• Up to 25% reduction of lost time and equipment failure
• Up to 15% reduction in the cost of inventory

Customization for Industries

IBM Asset Management Solutions are not geared toward any single industry, and the tools therein can be customized to meet the functional needs of various businesses. For example, Maximo’s features can be configured to focus on inventory management, service management, contract management, and asset management procedures in any of the following industries:

• Nuclear Science
• Oil and Gas
• Manufacturing
• Aviation
• Utilities
• Transportation
• and More

IBM’s solutions were designed to be customizable so that they’re capable of meeting specific business standards. The features of Maximo’s asset management software present significant value to businesses seeking to protect and optimize their high-value assets while reducing both unnecessary risks and costs.

Management teams operating asset-intensive businesses can depend on industry-specific solutions from IBM’s Maximo asset management software to address their unique management challenges. Maximo simplifies asset management processes by collecting, monitoring, analyzing, and organizing key pieces of information in a single user-friendly location.