Makes European Commitment with New Parts Distribution Center

Raytheon Aircraft Parts Inventory and Distribution (RAPID) is duplicating its success with its Dallas parts distribution center by opening a new parts distribution center in Liege, Belgium to serve Beechcraft and Hawker customers in Europe.

"RAPID’s new distribution site in Liege will raise the standard for aircraft parts delivery in Europe. We are committing our resources to Europe," said Ed Dolanski, Vice President – Customer Support Business for Raytheon Aircraft.

RAPID has amassed 10,000 parts – both proprietary and aftermarket – to be distributed by PFSweb,company that develops and deploys integrated business infrastructure solutions and fulfillment services for Fortune 1000, Global 2000 and brand name companies in Europe and North America.

"With PFSweb fulfillment solution and management of express carriers providing same-day and next-day shipping, our customers throughout Europe will see a dramatic improvement in parts availability for their Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft," said Dolanski.

RAPID’s new solution in PFSweb’s fully automated distribution center is located near Liege Airport, which is served by several air express cargo companies. PFSweb’s solution will include warehouse management, product receipt and inspection, order fulfillment and IT integration.

The PFSweb Liege facility has the following features:

• 150,000 square feet of space
• Maintains 15,000 shelf/flow rack/static bin locations
• Maintains 8,000 bulk/pallet locations
• Capacity per eight hour shift is 10,000 lines
• JD Edwards Warehouse Management System
• Radio Frequency Deployment
• Rapistan (Rapid Route) Conveyor System
• Rapistan (Rapid Pick) Pick to Light System
• Automated Carrier Labeling/Manifesting

The establishment of a European parts distribution center is part of series of improvements in Raytheon Aircraft Customer Support, and more specifically, the Dallas parts distribution center. During the last two years the organization has significantly raised parts availability and same-day shipping, as well as lowered Aircraft-on Ground averages from 14 days to 13 hours.

The organization has also established a Platinum Standard for the company’s fixed-base operations and Authorized Service Centers, and created such innovations as the Worldwide Inventory Network (WIN), a web-based system that allows customers to view the company’s entire parts inventory -- and nearly 100,000 additional part numbers from WIN partners – and order parts from either source.

"We’re getting great feedback from our customers that confirms that our efforts are raising industry standards," said Dolanski. "Our goal is to offer such excellent service that customers will never go anywhere else to buy their aircraft."

FMI: www.raytheonaircraftparts.com