Sensors help United Airlines keep logistics agile by continuously monitoring high-value tools that are circulated globally

October 06, 2020 | Case Study

In the aviation industry, tools are highly customized and specialized, meaning thousands of unique tools are needed for thousands of different use cases. Despite being a major airline, United Airlines usually has only one tool for each specific use case that is shared across the entire organization. Unfortunately, aircraft can suffer from mechanical issues at any time and in any place. This means that aircraft can be stranded on the ground until the appropriate tools arrive, which can translate into a financial loss for airlines. In some cases, United Airlines has to dispatch tools to foreign sites in order to perform repairs as soon as possible. Logistics becomes a key challenge, as the company needs to monitor its tools across the globe to ensure smooth operations.