There’s a common belief that artificial intelligence is only for large companies with big IT departments and bigger budgets. At Volo Aero MRO, we’re proving that isn’t true.
We’ve integrated AI into our ERP system, Tangle.io, to automate one of the most important and time-consuming steps in our process: turning customer repair orders into work.
Where it starts
The repair process doesn’t begin at the bench. It begins the moment your repair order arrives. Every detail on that PO matters: part numbers, serial numbers, time and cycle data, and especially your specific instructions. Getting it right the first time sets the tone for everything that follows.
What the system does
When a repair order arrives as a PDF, our AI-enabled ERP reads it and extracts:
- Customer-specific instructions, including 8130-3 Block 12 remarks requirements
- Part numbers and serial numbers
- Time and cycle data
- Last operator and engine serial number (ESN) information
- Required certification type
The system then builds the order in Tangle.io automatically, including a separate sales line for each part.
The results
For a typical three-line purchase order, order entry time has dropped from about 15 minutes to 3 minutes. That’s an 80% reduction.
Speed is only half the story. Manual data entry is where small mistakes creep in: a transposed serial number, a missed Block 12 requirement, a cycle count keyed in wrong. Automating order entry reduces those errors and captures your requirements correctly from the start.
What doesn’t change
Technology speeds up the paperwork. It doesn’t replace accountability. [Our team reviews and verifies extracted data before an order is released to the shop floor.] Every repair, inspection, and return-to-service decision is still made by qualified people under our FAA repair station procedures and quality system.
Why this matters for smaller companies
You don’t need a massive transformation project to benefit from AI. We started with one focused, repetitive task that affected quality and speed, and we applied the right tool to it. For small and mid-sized businesses, that’s the opportunity: find the process that slows you down, and put technology to work on it.
Our values in action
Accountability means getting your requirements right the first time. Excellence means using better tools to eliminate avoidable errors. Respect means valuing your time and your schedule. One Team means freeing our people from repetitive data entry so they can focus on the work that keeps aircraft flying.
It’s one more step in building a faster, more responsive Volo Aero MRO.
Born to Fly. Built to keep improving.
