Rebuild MRO Strategy Around Digital Maintenance and Obsolescence

What happened

Plant Engineering reports manufacturers are accelerating digital maintenance investments, moving from planning into execution. The survey shows increased vendor partnerships and budget allocation for technology, making contract terms and integration planning operationally important. Watch for more RFx and vendor pilots where procurement must govern data access and service SLAs

Why the category manager should care

Treat digital maintenance rollouts as supplier-integration projects requiring data access, SLAs, and lifecycle support clauses

Key facts

• Industry survey shows a meaningful uptick in planned AI and maintenance tech investment
• Vendors expected to play larger roles in implementation and ongoing support
• Plants reallocating operating budget lines toward technology and vendor partnerships

What happened

Plant Engineering examines the push toward robotics, automation and 'lights-out' manufacturing and highlights substantial interest and deployment gaps. High capital costs and integration complexity keep many sites from full autonomy today, so buyers will balance equipment spend with integration and support contracts. Watch for phased automation purchases that increase demand for vendor-managed installation and spare-part programs

Why the category manager should care

Negotiate automation contracts that include installation, training, spare parts and vendor escalation paths — treat suppliers as long-term partners

Key facts

• High interest in robotics and AI investment among manufacturers
• Phased automation approach from attended to lights-out increases integration needs
• Capital cost remains a key barrier for many sites

What happened

Gastops' FluidSIGHT was selected for testing under a Canadian defence innovation program to evaluate continuous oil monitoring on military land vehicles. The program will adapt FluidSIGHT for real-world use and assess operational readiness, making the case operationally real for buyers evaluating sensor-based lubricant monitoring. Watch for pilot results that will inform whether lab-testing programs can be scaled back

Why the category manager should care

Consider pilots with operational users to validate savings and changed logistics before broad adoption

Key facts

• Selected for government Test Drives program to evaluate in operational environments
• Adapting system specifically for military land vehicles to assess readiness
• Aim is to shift from periodic sampling to continuous monitoring

What happened

Gastops validated its ChipCHECK debris analysis tool for the F-35 engine, enabling on-site metallic debris diagnostics that reduce reliance on external labs. The validation makes faster turnarounds operationally feasible for high-value engines and suggests similar benefits for industrial rotating equipment. Watch for wider aerospace-to-industry transfer of on-site debris tools and associated changes to lab-service contracts

Why the category manager should care

Assess where on-site diagnostics can replace lab services and renegotiate lab contracts to reflect reduced volumes

Key facts

• Validation program completed for F-35 Pratt & Whitney F135 engine
• On-site laser-based metallic debris analysis reduces need for lab testing
• Now available for use across the global F-35 fleet

What happened

Atlantic XL completed a PLC control-system upgrade at a remote Arctic facility, highlighting logistical complexity and the operational necessity of modernized, supported control platforms. The project required careful coordination to keep the plant operational during installation and underscored shipping and travel constraints in remote work. Watch for similar obsolescence-driven upgrade needs in other remote assets that will affect spare strategy and travel planning

Why the category manager should care

Prioritize obsolescence audits for remote PLCs and negotiate managed spare-kit and installation terms with integrators

Key facts

• Completed station PLC upgrade using a modern ControlLogix platform
• Project required full system integration while maintaining plant operations
• Arctic logistics and travel added coordination and cost complexity