What is the spare-parts lifecycle?
How spare parts are identified, stocked, stored, issued, replenished and reviewed — so the right part is there when a fault happens.
The spare-parts lifecycle is how spare parts are managed so the right part is available when a fault happens. Critical parts are identified from asset data and failure history, stock levels are set, and spares are stored clean, dry and labelled until they are needed.
A spare is issued against a work order and the asset, the stock is replenished, and the range is reviewed for ageing and obsolescence. Poor spares control means long outages, dead stock and wrong parts.
- Identify. List the parts worth holding using criticality, failure history and replacement lead times.
- Stock. Agree quantities, minimum and reorder levels, and approved sources.
- Store. Keep spares clean, dry and labelled, and track items with a limited shelf life.
- Issue. Release a part against a work order and the asset, and update the stock count.
- Replenish. Reorder when stock is low, check what arrives and update the stock record.
- Review. Look for ageing and obsolete stock and adjust the range as needs change.
A held item kept to restore or maintain installed equipment, such as a lamp, LED module, connector or transformer.
The equipment in service on the airfield, which the spare is held to support and may later replace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is the spare-parts lifecycle in airfield ground lighting?
The path that spare parts follow while they support the installed AGL system: critical parts are identified, stock levels are set, spares are stored correctly, issued against the asset record when needed, replenished after use, and reviewed regularly for ageing, obsolescence and changing needs.
Q2How do you decide which spares to hold?
Common factors are how critical the item is to operations, how often it fails, how long a replacement takes to arrive, its cost, and whether it can be sourced locally. Asset data, failure history and manufacturer recommendations give the evidence, and the final list is agreed by the responsible organisation.
Q3How should AGL spares be stored?
Clean, dry and labelled, in conditions suited to the item and the manufacturer's instructions. Electronic parts, seals, lamps and cable need appropriate protection, and items with a limited shelf life should be tracked so the oldest stock is used or replaced first. Long-held spares such as isolating transformers, cable and CCR parts are inspected and tested, for example by insulation resistance, before they are fitted.
Q4What happens when a spare is issued?
It is issued against a work order and the asset it replaces. The asset record is updated with the new part, the removed part is routed to repair, testing or disposal, and the stock count triggers replenishment if it falls below the agreed level.
Q5What is obsolescence and why does it matter?
Obsolescence is when a part or its support is no longer available, for example after a product is discontinued. It affects the ability to repair, so it is monitored early and managed through last-time buys, approved alternatives, refurbishment or planned upgrade.
Q6What records support spare-parts management?
Part numbers and descriptions, quantities and locations, minimum and reorder levels, issue and receipt history, links to assets and work orders, batch or serial details, and shelf-life dates. These records show what is held, what it is used for and when to reorder.
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