Optimizing the data to transform JAL’s maintenance systems was 30 years overdue. Combining its enterprise wide data with advanced analytics, the airline invested in the design of an employee-centric app for iPad and iPhone that would empower every JAL maintenance employee to easily identify and address challenges, in real-time.

Driving operational efficiencies between front and back end supported JAL’s strategic goals to increase security and flight performance, elevate the customer experience, and create a communication platform that freed engineers from the printer and put them back to maintenance work in the hangar.

The “Assign Tech” capability gives aircraft mechanic supervisors an intuitive, streamlined dashboard on an iPad of all flight schedules and status of ongoing maintenance. It shows the availability of parts, recommends the most qualified engineer for each job based on expertise and availability, and provides push notifications about the job status, schedule updates, and urgent issues. Supervisors are empowered to proactively manage existing maintenance activities, optimize costs, and minimize delays.

The “Inspect & Turn” capability lets Line maintenance mechanics view and proactively prioritize work orders on an iPhone and Apple Watch and get expert support. They can check information about the assigned aircraft, confirm and finalize assigned work orders, search and allocate parts inventory, check failure and repair history about the aircraft, and communicate between airports using photos, movies, video phone, etc.

All of these capabilities help drive quicker turnarounds and increase on-time departures.

(see attached images on app visuals)

Every second counts in the fiercely competitive landscape of airline scheduling, maintenance, and customer loyalty. Updating a 30-year old engineering system enabled engineers, mechanics, and airport employees to identify issues and solve them in the short time between landing and take-off.

• JAL achieved the world’s best on-time departure ratio

• $20M per year cost reduction based on improved efficiencies

• Replaced 3.34 million printouts that required 40% of a mechanic’s day with real-time digital access through iPhone and iPad app.

• Reduced travel time between spot-locations and the office by 0.75 million miles (1.5 roundtrips to the moon).

• Reinvented time on the ground

• Reinvented the experience in the air with real-time follow-up on every task.

• May 2017 award from the Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for advanced initiative

• JAL’s applications have been adopted by other airlines as the industry best practice.