Aerospace logistics specialist B&H Worldwide has rolled out AI tyre scanning technology at its New Zealand operations, cutting inventory processing times by 60%.
The system, integrated into the company’s proprietary FirstTRAC warehouse management platform, replaces manual data entry with mobile-based scanning that uses computer vision and optical character recognition (OCR). Staff can now use smartphones or tablets to capture tyre data directly from sidewalls, including complex serial numbers.
The New Zealand site was selected as the global pilot location, reflecting increasing pressure on aerospace supply chains to improve traceability, compliance and operational speed.
Since implementation of the AI scanning tech, average inventory handling times have fallen from around four minutes per unit to just one minute, while error rates have dropped by 80-90%, pushing data accuracy above 99%. Productivity has also improved, with units processed per hour rising by about 30%.
Lee Hedges, branch manager at B&H Worldwide New Zealand, said: said: “This implementation represents a significant step forward in how we manage high-value, safety-critical inventory.”
Following the successful pilot, B&H Worldwide plans to expand the technology across its global network, with Melbourne, Australia, set to be the next deployment site. The digitalisation initiative is part of the company’s broader commitment to sustainability by reducing paper reliance.
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