Transforming Warranty Maintenance Operations: A Successful Partnership with Lufthansa Technik

At Sonrisa, we are proud to have built a strong partnership with Lufthansa Technik AG (LHT), a leading provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for aircraft worldwide.

As a valued subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, LHT is known for offering tailored maintenance programs and innovative digital fleet support. Our collaboration with Lufthansa Systems (LHS) enabled us to embark on an exciting project to enhance LHT's warranty and insurance claims processes.

Faced with an outdated Access-based solution, LHT’s goal was to modernize their warranty maintenance operations through a more efficient cloud-based web application. Leveraging our longstanding relationship with LHS, we were selected as a subcontractor to assemble a dedicated team of nine—eight experts from Sonrisa and one developer from LHS—ensuring we had the expertise needed to tackle this important project.

Our solution was to design a robust, cloud-based application using cutting-edge technologies like Java, React, and Azure tailored specifically for LHT's warranty needs. Through detailed consultation with LHT's warranty process owner, we engaged in an extensive analysis to align our solution with their business requirements. Utilizing SCRUM methodologies, our team developed a powerful application hosted on a self-managed Azure instance, delivering consistent software increments while adapting to the intricate needs of LHT’s IT ecosystem.

Key achievements during this engagement included analyzing LHT’s existing business processes, designing flexible software architecture for agile iterations, and developing integration functionalities with the LH MRO Solution (AMOS). Following the iterative development of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP), we successfully launched the application for LHT Warranty Managers, followed by regular updates that introduced innovative features, such as AI data analysis capabilities.

Despite challenges in data quality assurance and integrating within LHT’s extensive IT environment, we employed initial manual audits accompanied by a monitoring tool to ensure high standards. Our agile approach allowed us to swiftly adapt to changing business priorities and resolve issues effectively through daily communication and regular scrum ceremonies.

The impact of our solution has been transformative. By modernizing the warranty process, the Warranty App has allowed Warranty Managers to process claims efficiently, leading to significant financial benefits and a competitive edge in the airline industry. Our continuous integration and delivery practices have ensured that the system remains reliable and responsive to new challenges.

Looking ahead, the project’s improvement phase is expected to conclude by fall 2024, allowing for further enhancements and new opportunities for collaboration with Lufthansa Technik and other clients of Lufthansa Systems.

In summary, our partnership with Lufthansa Technik emphasizes our dedication to creating tailored software solutions that enhance operational efficiency and contribute to ongoing innovation in the aviation sector. By integrating advanced technologies and fostering a collaborative environment, we have positioned LHT for continued growth and success in the competitive airline industry. Keywords: Lufthansa Technik, warranty maintenance, aircraft MRO services, cloud-based application, software solutions, agile methodologies, aviation sector.