Lufthansa Technik tests out use of drones for safety checks

Digitization concepts like the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (A.I.) software, and drone technology were arguably the most talked about up-and-coming trends in supply chain management in 2017. In the first quarter of this year, we still haven’t seen many commercial uses in the cargo world, but we may soon begin to see uses for drones in the field of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).

Today, Lufthansa Technik, the MRO company affiliated with Lufthansa Airlines, reported its own foray into digitizing its processes at its Malta location, testing out the use of 3D-scanning-enabled drones to inspect the integrity of aircraft skin and identify any areas of structural damage.

In a statement, the MRO said it will try “more innovative technological solutions from external partners” in the near future, and affirmed that “everything that proves itself in practice there will be integrated in the work process.”

As more logistics companies begin to work these game-changing technologies into their operations, there will likely be a shift in the relationship between various members of the supply chain – although it’s difficult to say exactly what that shift will mean for the market and the world economy.

Last week, DHL published a paper highlighting the potential for heightened efficiency and cost minimization that will result from the automation of operations that drones and A.I. software will bring, and warned of their potential to replace human workers. Regardless of the current sense of ambiguity surrounding these technological advances, it will be interesting to see how dynamics shift in the face of an increasingly robotic supply chain.