AeroTrack Commercial Airplane Engine MRO
Hands-On CTO & Lead Architect
Project Overview
Custom ERP system for a commercial airplane engine MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) shop that tracks engine repairs, parts routing, inventory, and requisitions.
The Challenge
Commercial aircraft engine maintenance demands precise coordination across multiple domains. I led the implementation of a custom MRO ERP system that seamlessly integrated finance, procurement, inventory management, production planning, maintenance execution, and regulatory compliance workflows. This solution empowered technicians with shop-floor accessibility while providing management with real-time business intelligence across the entire maintenance lifecycle. The system optimized parts tracking, documentation control, and FAA/EASA compliance reporting, ultimately reducing turnaround times and enhancing operational efficiency for this critical aerospace maintenance operation.
My Role
As hands-on CTO and lead architect, I was responsible for:
- Designing and implementing the entire platform from the ground up
- All data modeling and system architecture decisions
- Translating complex business requirements into simple, user-friendly solutions
- Collaborating directly with management and technicians to ensure the system met their needs
Technical Approach
I chose Ruby on Rails for this project due to its simplicity and excellent alignment with the business domain. The system was designed to be practical and maintainable, focusing on delivering immediate business value rather than unnecessary complexity.
Key technical components included:
- Comprehensive data model for tracking engine components through the repair process
- Inventory management system with requisition workflows
- Parts routing and tracking throughout the facility
- Reporting tools for management oversight and compliance
Business Value Delivered
The system delivered significant business value by:
- Streamlining operations and improving efficiency
- Reducing turnaround times for engine repairs
- Providing better operational visibility for management
- Ensuring compliance with aviation regulations
- Minimizing parts loss and improving inventory management
Development Philosophy
Throughout the project, my focus was on delivering business value by building only what was needed, iterating quickly based on feedback, and ensuring technology aligned with the business goals. This pragmatic approach resulted in a system that was immediately useful rather than theoretically perfect.