Supplier support management

Managing the customer-supplier relationship, ensuring suppliers’ performance in product, service and cost is kept at the highest level. Airbus has established a policy for bilateral dealings between customers and suppliers and maintains a management and facilitation role to ensure the success of this working method. Airbus support standards are specified in the Supplier Support Conditions (SSC). But not enough: Airbus identifies areas where improvements can be made in the supply chain and implements action plans to achieve those improvements by actively collaborating with our suppliers. Facilitating customers’ in-service issues with suppliers and managing suppliers’ performance in line with purchase conditions is key for Airbus.

Prior to the Entry-Into-Service (EIS) of a new aircraft, the operator’s activities increase due to the organisation of the entry-into-service and the Initial Provisioning (IP) of parts and tools. Negotiations with numerous suppliers have to be held in order to be prepared for the new aircraft and the up-coming maintenance tasks. An increasing number of customers want to reduce their workload at entry-into-service and shift responsibility of the initial parts procurement and logistics fully to Airbus, who packages and guarantees spares availability for a smooth entry-into-service of the new aircraft.