HAESL taps HCLTech to digitise Hong Kong engine MRO
Hong Kong Aero Engine Services has selected HCLTech to overhaul its aircraft engine maintenance execution in Hong Kong, with a new digital system that connects shop-floor work to enterprise processes.
HCLTech will deploy its iMRO/4 asset management product and integrate it with SAP S/4HANA. HAESL will use the combined platform as its Maintenance Execution System for engine maintenance, repair and overhaul work.
HAESL said the system will replace what it described as fragmented processes on the shop floor. The company said the new set-up will provide a single, end-to-end digital view of work from engine induction through to release.
The companies linked the move to pressure across the aviation maintenance sector. Engine maintenance providers face backlogs and capacity constraints, while airlines and lessors ask for greater speed and transparency during shop visits.
System integration
iMRO/4 links maintenance activity with functions such as finance and materials planning. HCLTech said the integration with SAP S/4HANA will put maintenance execution and enterprise planning in one environment.
HAESL said the change will increase traceability across the workflow. It also said customers will see progress in real time.
"Our customers depend on transparent progress and consistent quality during every shop visit. By integrating iMRO/4 with SAP S/4HANA, we will enhance end-to-end traceability and provide a single view of the workflow from induction to release. This reduces barriers and improves execution efficiency. Partnering with HCLTech marks a significant step in our transformation, creating a scalable digital foundation that supports operational excellence and long-term growth," said Ravinder Bedi, General Manager of Finance & Administration, overseeing the CFO functions including IT, HAESL.
HCLTech described iMRO/4 as an asset management product designed for aviation maintenance environments. The company said it connects maintenance activity to enterprise processes. It said the approach reduces turnaround times and costs and ensures compliance.
HAESL and HCLTech also pointed to regulatory requirements that shape aircraft engine maintenance. They said digital execution improves the ability to demonstrate compliance through consistent records and process control.
Industry context
HAESL operates as a specialist provider of Rolls-Royce Trent engine overhaul, repair and testing. The company said it handles Trent 700 and XWB engines, and it also works on Rolls-Royce RB211-524 and Trent 800 engines.
The company said it has an annual throughput of about 360 engines. It said it has overhauled more than 5,500 Rolls-Royce RB211 and Trent engines for more than 50 airlines since inception in 1997.
HAESL is a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and the HAECO Group, which sits within the Swire Group. The companies did not disclose financial terms for the work with HCLTech.
HCLTech said it will work with HAESL on modernisation of MRO execution in Asia. It framed the project as a shift away from standalone systems and towards broader digital execution across maintenance operations.
"Our partnership with HAESL sets a new benchmark for digital excellence in aviation," said Sandeep Sarkar, Senior Vice President, ASEAN, HCLTech. "By combining HCLTech's aviation industry expertise with HAESL's world-class maintenance capabilities, we are transforming its engine MRO operations for real-time visibility and greater efficiency," said Sarkar.
The new Maintenance Execution System will run in Hong Kong and will sit at the centre of HAESL's engine shop visit workflow, from induction through to release.