Digitizing back-to-birth (BtB) tracing improves the accuracy of record-keeping. It also saves companies time and money by removing tedious hands-on processes.

More than half of aircraft are now leased, so it’s increasingly common for planes and parts to change hands. This dynamism adds to the risk of costly repairs. As a result, running a back-to-birth trace review has become more complex and important over recent decades. Accurate record-keeping and digitization make this process easier and more reliable, which makes the market more efficient.

Lessors include the phrase “back-to-birth trace” in their agreements to protect against mishaps. However, there’s no standard definition of what back-to-birth tracing should entail. In fact, there are multiple competing guidelines and understandings of the process, from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), among others. This can confuse the situation. In addition, back-to-birth tracing can be slow and inaccurate due to outdated manual methods that lack standardization.

Stepping in to resolve these issues, automated record-keeping simplifies the entire process and increases its accuracy. By digitizing documentation, innovative companies like ProvenAir enable lessors, operators, parts suppliers, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers to access the necessary information fast.

The Role of Record-Keeping and Documentation in the Aviation Industry

Proper aircraft management requires considerable record-keeping, as owners and MROs already know. It’s important to keep documentation in the best condition, particularly during asset transfers. For example, an aircraft changes hands each time a lease is up, or a sale is complete. So, its documentation should be updated with each transfer to ensure accuracy. Anything less endangers all stakeholders with misinformation.

Correct documentation helps lessors and owners evaluate both past events and the current situation of an airplane. This makes it more feasible to effectively plan for future repairs. Therefore, it’s critical to maintain valid records of inspections and modifications. Inaccuracies now risk significant costs down the road.

Accurate record-keeping works as a repository of knowledge on maintenance throughout the life of an aircraft and its parts. This reveals whether an asset needs repairs or replacement and whether the plane is airworthy. As such, it’s imperative that documents are stored securely yet remain accessible.

An owner or operator who doesn’t have their documentation in order may be unable to sell or operate their assets. So, accurate record-keeping is vital—not optional. While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assigns responsibility for documentation to the respective organizations, it doesn’t state how to maintain records. And, it turns out there’s a world of difference between manual and automatic methods.

Impact of Manual Processes in Aircraft Management and Trace Process

Obviously, manual processes were the default option when there were no record-keeping alternatives. But even with advancements in digitalization, manual processes remain disappointingly common—despite their associated problems:

Error-Prone

Manual processes are subject to human error. We all know humans make mistakes, yet we entrust people with important back-to-birth trace record-keeping. This risks typos, incorrect data entry, and other errors. All these mistakes add up and can result in an unfit part being sold or the wrong price being paid.

Slow-Moving

Even when manual documentation is accurate, it’s slow. Humans simply can’t keep pace with computers. Time is money, and wasting time on slow manual processes is an unaffordable resource drain. Keeping records by hand should be avoided just like avoiding any other unnecessarily slow and costly business process.

Inconsistent and Unreliable

Manual documentation introduces too many inconsistencies. When you have multiple people keeping records, they each bring their own habits and peculiarities to the process. This results in a mess of conflicting outputs that vary wildly in quality. It’s not a trustworthy, predictable, or reliable way to document aircraft components on which people’s lives depend.

Manual processes have no place in back-to-birth trace process record-keeping—there’s too much at stake. Fortunately, automating documents has emerged as a better solution.

ProvenAir: Solving the Frustrations of Manual Record-Keeping in Back-to-Birth Tracing

Upgrading from manual systems to digital systems has become common in many industries. Even within aviation, people now expect many processes to be digital, such as booking flights. So, why isn’t record-keeping and verifying accuracy for back-to-birth tracing automated?

Now it is, thanks to ProvenAir’s new record-keeping algorithms. This technology brings aircraft parts documentation up to modern standards of accuracy, speed, and consistency. It produces an easy-to-use, back-to-birth trace analysis for life-limited parts.

ProvenAir saves companies time and money by streamlining all the data related to each trace. Rather than searching through scans or emails, you can instantly see what you need. The solution also creates a straightforward process where multiple people can work together without cluttering the documentation.

Automated record-keeping with ProvenAir includes powerful features for live reports and analysis. For instance, aircraft lessors can immediately see the installed parts. In addition, airlines gain access to trusted information on the engines, landing gear, and other life-limited parts. MROs now have fast and accurate back-to-birth traces. And finally, vendors can provide full documentation to assist with sales.

Digital record-keeping saves valuable resources by producing high-quality documents that manual techniques simply can’t match. Moreover, reducing time and errors will free up your assets to invest in what you do best.

Automate Record-Keeping with ProvenAir

Digitizing record-keeping is a crucial step for the aviation industry to keep pace with modern demands. Automating back-to-birth trace processes eliminates costly errors and oversights due to old manual methods. Businesses also become more agile thanks to ProvenAir’s more-than-capable software.

ProvenAir can find and eliminate errors and show you any missing documents. The comprehensive reports will give you correct analyses of each asset, from birth through operation and any overhaul.

Even better, the entire process is easy. Simply upload the source documents, and the software will compile results. From there, you can see trace timelines, errors, and recommendations. The information is well-organized, so you can rapidly find what you need.

Automation with digital technology enhances the speed and quality of work. This applies as much to aircraft record-keeping as the numerous other fields now undergoing modernization. Jump on the newest technology with ProvenAir to level up your aviation operations. Contact us now to build back-to-birth trace reports you can trust.

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It’s About More Than Just Record-Keeping: Unpacking the Importance of the Back-to-Birth Trace Process