Multi-chamber aircraft part packaging with ordered part arrangement and labeling and methods thereof

Abstract

The embodiments described herein provide packages and methods that can improve the efficiency of repair procedures on complex vehicles such as aircraft. In particular, the packages and methods can reduce the time need by mechanics to perform complex repair procedures, and thus can reduce the costs of such procedures. In general, such an improvement in time and cost efficiency is provided by packaging and labeling the parts for repair in an arrangement that corresponds to the use of such parts in a defined procedure, such as a for repair procedure defined in a component maintenance manual (CMM).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package comprising:
 a package body, the package body including a package face;   a plurality of chambers defined in the package body, each of the plurality of chambers configured to contain at least one vehicle part; and   a plurality of part identifiers, each of the plurality of part identifiers identifying one of a plurality of vehicle parts, the plurality of part identifiers arranged on the package face with each of the plurality of part identifiers proximate to a corresponding one of the plurality of chambers to identify a corresponding vehicle part, and where the plurality of part identifiers are arranged in an order on the package face corresponding to an order of use during a vehicle repair.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of part identifiers includes a visual indicator that corresponds to another visual indictor found in a manual describing the vehicle repair. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the visual indicator and the another visual indicator comprise a similar color. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the visual indicator and the another visual indicator comprise a similar shape. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle repair is described in a component maintenance manual. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle repair comprises an aircraft repair procedure. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of chambers are defined using controlled cuts in the package face. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of chambers include an insert to define an interior space. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the package includes a reference to a manual defining the vehicle repair. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the reference comprises a QR code. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the package further includes:
 a second package body, the second package body including a second package face;   a second plurality of chambers defined in the second package body, each of the second plurality of chambers configured to contain at least one vehicle part; and   a second plurality of part identifiers, each of the second plurality of part identifiers identifying one of the plurality of vehicle parts, the second plurality of part identifiers arranged on the second package face with each of the second plurality of part identifiers proximate to a corresponding one of the second plurality of chambers to identify a corresponding vehicle part, and where the second plurality of part identifiers are arranged in an order on the second package face corresponding to an order of use during the vehicle repair.   
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the package body and the second package body are configured to stack in the package. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the package body is labelled for hard parts, and wherein the second package body is labelled for soft parts. 
     
     
         14 . A package for delivering a plurality of aircraft parts, the package comprising:
 a package body, the package body including a package back and a package face;   a plurality of chambers defined in the package body, each of the plurality of chambers configured to contain one of the plurality of aircraft parts separate from other of the plurality of aircraft parts contained in the package body; and   a plurality of part labels, each of the plurality of part labels identifying one of the plurality of aircraft parts, the plurality of part labels affixed to the package face with each of the plurality of part labels positioned proximate to a corresponding one of the plurality of chambers to identify a corresponding one of the plurality of parts contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of chambers, and where the plurality of part labels are arranged in an order on the package face corresponding to an order of use in a defined repair procedure that uses the plurality of aircraft parts, and wherein the defined repair procedure is described in a component maintenance manual.   
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of part labels includes a visual indicator that corresponds to another visual indictor found in the component maintenance manual describing the defined repair procedure. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of chambers are each defined using controlled cuts in the face, and wherein each of the plurality of chambers include an insert to define an interior space. 
     
     
         17 . A method of packaging a plurality of aircraft parts for delivery to a repair facility, the method comprising:
 providing a package, the package including a package face and a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers configured to contain one of the plurality of aircraft parts separate from other of the plurality of aircraft parts contained in the package;   placing at least one of the plurality of aircraft parts in each of the plurality of chambers; and   affixing a plurality of part labels to the package face, each of the plurality of part labels identifying one of the plurality of aircraft parts, with each of the plurality of part labels positioned proximate to a corresponding one of the plurality of chambers to identify a corresponding one of the plurality of aircraft parts contained in the corresponding one of the plurality of chambers, and where the plurality of part labels are arranged in an order on the package face corresponding to an order of use in a defined repair procedure that uses the plurality of aircraft parts.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of part labels includes a visual indicator that corresponds to another visual indictor found in a component maintenance manual describing the defined repair procedure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of performing the defined repair procedure as described in the component maintenance manual. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the providing the package comprises defining the plurality of chambers using controlled cuts in the face, and adding an insert to each of the plurality of chambers to define an interior space.