Maintenance repair and operations (MRO): Trends, issues and challenges in India

Abstract

The suppliers and manufactures are in constant pressure to improve business performance in this global economy. Business complexity, cost pressures and ever increasing quality standards are at the root of these pressures. The ‘extended enterprise’ supply chain model, with a focus on rapid product design, lean manufacturing, and JIT inventories, has proven its effectiveness as a competitive weapon. This is having a major impact on how direct materials- those materials and components that ultimately become part of the marketable products - are purchased and their suppliers are managed. Inventories have been slashed; time required for product design has been reduced, quality has improved, and suppliers and customers find themselves in new and unprecedented roles. Business pressures and supply chain management are causing firms now to also evaluate the world of indirect materials and particularly MRO. MRO across the globe stands for Maintenance, Repair and Operating Supplies. In aviation industry the term MRO has been coined as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul.