CSC, OAT Jointly Distributing to A350 XWB Suppliers; Digitally Track and Trace Aircraft Components Across Their Full Lifecycle OATSystems, a division of Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CKP), today announced here at RFID Journal Live that it will be offering its recent ATA Spec 2000 RFID solution as part of an RFID part marking package for suppliers of the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. The supplier package will be used for tracking and tracing A350 XWB aircraft components across their full lifecycle.

Airbus is employing OAT’s software suite as part of its award-winning Value Chain Visibility (VCV) programme. The Airbus VCV programme is an Auto-ID inspired business transformation programme that is developing state-of-the-art streamlined business processes across the value chain through increased visibility and measurability. Its scope is the full Airbus value chain: from suppliers to Airbus, covering the full spectrum of industrial processes between its global manufacturing sites and onto its airlines customers and in-service partners.

The A350 XWB Supplier Package for RFID Part Marking

In 2008, Airbus became the first aircraft manufacturer to request its suppliers to add permanent RFID tags to approximately 3000 parts on each its new A350 XWB aircraft. These RFID tags are designed to remain with the parts throughout their entire lifecycle in order to digitally store the full maintenance history and enhance process automation and visibility for all players across the lifecycle. CSC and OAT are jointly taking the supplier package to market and offering it to A350 XWB suppliers to help them meet Airbus’ RFID part marking requirements for the A350 XWB aircraft. Multiple Tier 1 global suppliers have already licensed the solution for tagging and tracking major component parts and subassemblies. “We are excited to partner with Airbus and CSC and believe that what we have learned over the past years building manufacturing and logistics solutions from the ground up will be of tremendous value to the aerospace community,” said Prasad Putta, general manager, OATSystems, and executive vice president, Merchandise Visibility Solutions, Checkpoint Systems. The packaged solutions cover use cases such as birth record creation and repair maintenance history updates and include RFID software, readers, training and support, and offer multiple deployment options for Airbus A350 XWB suppliers based on component type, production volume and enterprise systems. Mobile packages include handheld readers (such as Motorola) with additional options for fixed portals or smart tables.