At its annual ceremony during the Le Bourget Airshow in Paris, Charles Champion, Airbus Executive Vice President Customer Services, presented awards to recognise those suppliers who have achieved outstanding levels of customer satisfaction. To determine the shortlist, the rating process included inputs from 115 participating Airbus operators. The announced winners are as follows:

• Airbus Avionics, Rockwell Collins Avionics, Diehl Aerospace and Technofan received a gold award for their consistent delivery of “Exceptional Customer Support Performance” since 2004;
• Airbus Cabin Systems, Thales Avionics, Goodrich Fuel & Utility Systems, Thales In-Flight Entertainment, Hamilton Sundstrand and Parker received a silver award in recognition of their top-ten ranking and achieving “Excellent Customer Support Performance”;
• Eaton received an award as the most improved supplier for support in 2008.

The major equipment suppliers to Airbus family are rated on three criteria: The ability to provide continuously reliable equipment and systems including technical support; Ensuring effective operational support services are aligned to Airbus support standards; Benchmarking cost of ownership in terms of spares pricing and equipment direct maintenance cost. The rated suppliers are divided into three categories: 40 Major Equipment Suppliers (SFE); 30 Cabin Suppliers covering seats, galleys & monuments, and IFE (inflight entertainment) suppliers; and five Engine Manufacturers.

Also, for the first time, support performance in specific Cabin commodities has been recognised as Weber received an award for the best performing Seat Supplier, and Jamco as the best Galleys and Monuments Supplier within the Cabin Supplier Support Ranking.

The number of participating Customers confirms the continuing positive trend over recent years: 115 airlines have participated in the rating process – representing 77.2 per cent of the in-service fleet of Airbus aircraft, compared to 75 per cent in 2007. This is the third year in a row where more than 100 Customers have contributed.

“The high volume of responses further emphasises both the value Airbus customers place on Supplier performance in support of the operation of their aircraft and the importance of the Airbus Rating process within the Airline and Supplier community,” said Champion. “Once more, this clearly demonstrates that the Airbus Supplier Support Rating is setting the standards within our industry,” he added.

The next rating cycle will be launched during the final quarter of 2009. Airbus will continue to develop the Supplier Support Rating to ensure it meets the needs of Airbus’ customer community and, through direct customer feedback, identifies areas for improvement where suppliers can enhance their support performance.

Source: Airbus