Optimization of maintenance operations and spare parts inventory for an heterogeneous fleet of aircrafts.

This proposal deals with the design of a decision-making tool for the management of maintenance operations and spare parts inventories for Jazz Air LP best known as Air Canada Jazz. Jazz is the leader of the regional air transportation in Canada with 131 aircrafts, serves 85 destinations in Canada and the United-States and operates more than 800 daily flights from 6 main regional bases. Due to the high reliability and service requirements, maintenance activities are critical. Checks are mandated after a number of flying hours are reached. Repairs take place when a failure is detected or preventively to avoid failure. All these activities require excellent planning and coordination of resources and facilities. Spare parts are kept to quickly perform maintenance activities in order to reduce maintenance downtime and increase aircraft availability which ensures greater customer satisfaction. However, these spare parts are expensive and keeping large quantities can be very costly. Therefore, advanced mathematical models must be used to determine the optimal inventory levels to be kept by each base and have a pro-active scheduling system to coordinate the maintenance activities.Four projects have been identified to address the maintenance and spare parts problems faced by the industrial partner: i) design a virtually centralized inventory system using advanced provisioning techniques to provide better service, ii) design a pre-drawing of spare parts kits to improve maintenance checks, iii) develop a pro-active maintenance scheduling system, and iv) optimize a repair-shop operations. These four topics will be modeled, analyzed and solved using advanced engineering knowledge in maintenance, inventory control, queueing and control modeling. The outcomes are expected to be substantial savings for the industrial partner through an integrated computerized decision-making system, training of highly qualified graduate students, and advancement of knowledge with the publication of the models to be developed.